Law Minister Anisul Huq has said that the country's Digital Security Act (DSA) will be amended by September this year.
Reaffirming the government's commitment to safeguarding human rights, the law minister said the amendment will be done after consultations with civil society and other stakeholders.
The minister made the remarks at a panel discussion on digital, freedom of expression and opinion held to mark the 75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on Sunday.
United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office in Bangladesh in partnership with Brac University Law Department organized the roundtable discussion, reads a press release.
The roundtable brought independent experts, human rights activists, journalists, and students together.
The event was also attended UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, Gwyn Lewis. A technical expert from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), who joined the roundtable via video link.
Addressing the roundtable, the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, Gwyn Lewis, noted that the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) provided the Government of Bangladesh with detailed technical comments to assist with a revision of the DSA and underlined the necessity to have a dialogue with the youth.
“I am grateful that the Honourable Minister Anisul Huq and respected guests are participating in this dialogue between the government, civil society, and the youth to exchange perspectives on progress and challenges related to the digital laws of Bangladesh and international standards. Only by having these discussions and listening to each other, we can build a just and inclusive society,” he added.
Earlier this year, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called for immediate suspension of the Digital Security Act (DSA), as more than 2,000 cases have been filed under this law including the case against Matiur Rahman, the editor of the media outlet Prothom Alo.
OHCHR explained the comments the Office of the High Commissioner had sent to the government and stressed upon specific definitions, allowing for bail, and limiting extensive powers given to the police. Several eminent panellists presented their views on the digital governance of Bangladesh, making recommendations for improvement.
The roundtable was attended by dozens of students from five universities in Bangladesh. Their participation in the discussion highlighted the important role of young people in shaping the future of human rights in particular in the digital space.
