More than 30 social and cultural organizations have demanded the immediate release of all those arrested and detained under the Digital Security Act, including Jagannath University student Khadijatul Kobra.
They demanded the release through a statement issued on Wednesday under the banner “Protibadi Shamajik Shangskritik Shongothonsomuho”.
In the statement, the organizations also demanded the immediate repeal of all “anti-people” and “oppressive laws”, including the Digital Security Act.
According to the joint statement, media reports have revealed that Jagannath University student Khadijatul Kobra was 17 years old when the Digital Security Act case was filed against her in 2020.
However, the police filed a case against her as an adult and she has been in jail for eight months after the charge sheet was filed in that case.
Despite repeated appeals, Khadija was not granted bail due to the objections of the state. The statement said that the state cannot destroy the educational life of a student by implementing such a restrictive law.
Khadijatul was arrested under the Digital Security Act (DSA) for hosting a "controversial talk show”.
Besides, the statement also raised questions about how the Digital Security Act applies to minors. It is said that not only Khadija, thousands of people across the country are currently being arrested in cases filed under Digital Security Act.
The joint statement also said that the freedom of expression and freedom of speech of Bangladeshis is being undermined through the Digital Security Act which is in conflict with the basic spirit of the constitution. Not only that, the law has been made one of the tools to harass people of various classes and professions including journalists, teachers, students, artists and suppress dissent.
The statement also noted that such restrictive laws can never be enforced in an independent sovereign state. Using undemocratic, repressive digital security laws, the government continues to curtail press freedom and freedom of expression by arresting and intimidating journalists and free-thinking people from all walks of life, says the statement.
On the pretext of protecting religious sentiments, free-thinking and science-minded people are being arrested and harassed, they claimed.
These undemocratic laws and repression are contrary to the Declaration of Independence and equality, social justice and human dignity, as mentioned in the joint statement of protesting social and cultural organizations. Therefore, these organizations have demanded immediate cancellation of all restrictive laws including the Digital Security Act.