ARTICLE 19, an international human rights organization, demanded immediate implementation of the promise to amend the controversial sections of the Digital Security Act (DSA) for the sake of democracy.
The rights organization made the demand in a statement issued on Monday marking the four years since the DSA bill was passed in the Bangladesh National Parliament on 19 September 2018.
According to ARTICLE 19, the law has been used to muzzle dissent and criticism of the government over the past four years.
The organization observed that a law that has been mostly used as a tool for curtailing freedom of expression of the citizens cannot exist in any democratic system.
“Blatant use of DSA has already created a culture of fear undermining democracy in Bangladesh, though the government has repeatedly said it has been taking steps to amend the controversial sections of the law,” the statement read.
Faruq Faisel, regional director of ARTICLE 19 South Asia, said: “Since 2018 ARTICLE 19 has been demanding reforms into the provisions of DSA, which were identified as curbs to the right to freedom of expression. Admitting the fact that the law has been misused and abused, several responsible ministers in the recent past have promised to reform the law with an assurance to check its application more carefully.”
“However, the reality is different, cases and arrests under this law are rampant with the recent shocking incident of a female student of Jagannath University being arrested under DSA for conducting a webinar two years back, when she was only 17 years of age. She has been in jail for almost a month and has had her bail prayers rejected sthree times so far,’’ he added.
“As with most DSA lawsuits, the very ground of the cases filed against the female student is also shaky. She has been charged, while she was just moderating the event, with provoking incitement to overthrow the government through a single webinar - which is very unfortunate.
We have earlier witnessed similar instances of even students at the school and college level being sued in cases filed under DSA, including a 14-year-old ninth grader being arrested for allegedly defaming the Prime Minister.”
ARTICLE 19 calls for the immediate release of the female student of Jagannath University and the withdrawal of the case filed against her.
