In addition, the Digital Security Act includes problematic aspects of Section 57 of the Information and Communications Technology Act, despite public promises by government ministers to eliminate it. One of the most worrisome provisions of the Digital Security Act is an amendment added at the last minute in Section 43, which will allow police to arrest or search individuals without a warrant. Specifically, we ask that legislators address the concerns that have been expressed repeatedly by the community of journalists in Bangladesh, as outlined below. CPJ is concerned that this legislation, if allowed to become law, would violate constitutional guarantees of freedom of the press, and would create extensive legal dangers for journalists in the normal course of carrying out their professional activities.ĬPJ respectfully urges you to exercise your constitutional authority to return the legislation to Parliament for revisions that would eliminate these dangers. The Committee to Protect Journalists, an independent press freedom advocacy organization, is deeply concerned about the Digital Security Act that was passed on September 18 by the Parliament of Bangladesh, and urge you to return it for review.
His Excellency Honorable President Abdul Hamid