'Our voices gagged, mouths shut, pens stuck'

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad has observed that journalists no longer do not enjoy freedom of expression in Bangladesh, in what appeared to be a criticism of the draft Digital Security Act 2018. “Such a law has been formulated that journalists are now unable to write and express opinions independently. Our voices gagged, mouths shut, writings stopped, pens stuck – everything has come to a halt,” he said while addressing a rally at the Dak Bungalow premises in Pirganj upazila, Thakurgaon on Saturday. Ershad further said: “We were to write and express our opinions with freedom in an independent country. But it is not possible to do so in Bangladesh.” People of the nation were unhappy and they need to bring Jatiya Party to power in the next parliamentary election if they want the country to prosper, the former military dictator said. Presided over by Jatiya Party presidium member Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, the rally was also addressed by Jatiya Party Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Hawladar and State Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Mashiur Rahman Ranga. The cabinet approved the draft of the Digital Security Act 2018 last week. Journalists, online activists and lawyers who expose irregularities in government organizations could be hit with 14-year jail terms and maximum fines of Tk20 lakh.