Dhaka Bureau: The editors’ council demanded the repeal of the Digital Security Act. Besides, the organization demanded that the laws against independent and free journalism be suspended.
On the occasion of “World Free Media Day,” Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam raised this demand on behalf of the editorial board at a discussion meeting organized at the National Press Club in the capital on Tuesday (May 2).
The organizer of this discussion meeting titled it “Freedom of expression is the driving force of all human rights’. Mahfuz Anam is the president of the organization.
Hasanul Haque Inu, President of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and former Information Minister, spoke as an honored guest at the meeting. Dewan Hanif Mahmud, General Secretary of the Editor Council and Merchant News Editor, moderated.
Besides, Ittefaq editor Tasmima Hossain, Samakal editor Mozammel Hossain, New Age editor Nurul Kabir, former president of Bangladesh Federal Journalist Union Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Financial Express editor Shamsul Haque Zahid, Prothom Alo managing editor Anisul Haque, and Desh Manwaran acting editor Mostafa Mamun also spoke.
The demands of the editorial board include the immediate suspension of the pending laws against independent and free journalism. Exclude from the Act the provisions that may hinder independent journalism.
The Digital Security Act should be repealed. And if there is any hindrance for the government in canceling it, then such a clause should be added. Where it is stated, this law does not apply to the media, independent journalism, or freedom of expression. The cases that have been filed to date due to journalism should be withdrawn, and arrested journalists should be released.
It is also said that the atmosphere of fear that has been created should be completely removed by the government. There can be laws to protect journalism, which is within the spirit of the Constitution.
