A total of 22 eminent citizens have demanded the repeal of the Digital Security Act (DSA).
They have also demanded the immediate withdrawal of the cases against Prothom Alo Editor and Publisher Matiur Rahman and reporter Samsuzzaman Shams, in a press release issued on Thursday.
The eminent citizens have also called for the release of Samsuzzaman Shams from jail.
“We note with concern that following a recent news report published by Prothom Alo, reporter Shamsuzzaman was picked up from his residence in the middle of the night and subsequently arrested in a case under the controversial Digital Security Act,” said the statement.
“Without taking the protests of the journalist community and various sections of the society into account, another case was filed under the Digital Security Act against the Editor of the newspaper, Matiur Rahman, based on the same news on March 29, 2023 midnight,” it adds.
“We express our deep concern and outrage over the case against Editor Matiur Rahman and the arrest of reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams,” the statement reads.
The eminent citizens said that these incidents have set yet another alarming example of the misuse of the DSA to suppress freedom of expression and independent journalism.
“Cases and arrests are being made under this act without taking the opportunity to resolve conflicts through the Bangladesh Press Council over complaints against journalists, and it appears that the intent is to curtail the free flow of journalism in Bangladesh,” the statement reads.
The statement also said that on March 22 Naogaon land office employee Sultana Jasmine was arrested by RAB following the complaint under the same Digital Security Act and later her death in RAB custody caused widespread outrage.
“Even after such a tragic incident, the misuse of the Digital Security Act does not stop, which was proved once again by the arrest of news reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams,” the statement adds.
The statement was signed by Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, Trustee, Gonoshasthaya Kendra; Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, economist; Dr Hameeda Hossain, human rights activist; Khushi Kabir, coordinator, Nijera Kori; Shaheen Anam, executive director, Manusher Jonno Foundation; Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director, Transparency International Bangladesh; Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, editor, SUJAN and others.