DSA is needed to ensure digital security of the people, he says
File photo of Information Minister Hasan Mahmud talking to reporters at the secretariat on Sunday, October 3, 2021 PID
BSS
Publish : 30 Nov 2021, 12:55 PMUpdate : 26 Dec 2021, 12:56 PM
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has said that the Digital Security Act (DSA) is for ensuring digital security of all people of the country.
"The law is not only for the persons of special professions, but it is also for all people to ensure their digital security. Such laws have been enacted almost all countries of the world," he said on Tuesday.
The minister made the remarks at an online seminar on “Fact and Impact of Digital Security Act” through from his Secretariat office organized by diplomats, a non-government organization, at a hotel in the city.
State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak presided over the meeting while Attorney General Abu Md Amin Uddin and Awami League Deputy Publicity Secretary Aminul Islam Amin spoke it as special guests.
Barrister SM Shafiullha Rahman, Barrister Ali Asif Khan Rajib and Professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman Kajal took part in the discussion.
Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, said the digital issue is now a reality and many countries have enacted such laws.
"The law is for all, including housewives, farmers, rickshaw pullers, officials and journalists," he said.
The minister said the law was not necessary when the issue of digital system did not exist. But currently it is needed to ensure digital security of the people to save them from harassment on digital platforms, he added.
He said such laws are available in India named “The Information Technology Act 2000”, in Pakistan named “The Prevention of Crime Act 2016”. Such laws also exist in Singapore, Australia and other European countries, he added.
On Tuesday, two ruling party leaders filed separate cases under the DSA seeking action against people posting and sharing photos of the information minister with “false and fabricated” information.
The minister said the chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information of the United Kingdom has informed him that it was tough to arrest the persons who were plotting conspiracies or spreading rumors through fake ID or from abroad. That time they have fined the service providers, he added.
Hasan Mahmud said such laws of taking actions against those persons and the social platforms are available at almost all countries if they want to create instability through Facebook, Youtube or other social media.
He said about only 5 million people used internet in the country before the ruling party formed the government in 2009 and currently over 110 million people are using internet service. About 80 million people are using the social platforms, he added.
The minister said there were few online newspapers before the Awami League formed the government. And now, there are hundreds of online newspapers across the country.
"We are observing that people are facing different obstacle situations and different crimes are taking place through online," he said.
Referring to some incidents, Hasan said: "We saw that the Ramu incident was held due to spreading propaganda in social media. The incidents which took place in the recent Durga Puja were also held for spreading propaganda through social platforms."
For this, he said, there is no scope of spreading confusion of the act. It is responsibility of the state to provide digital security to the countrymen. But the government remains alert so that none can misuse the act, he added.
Palak said Bangladesh has been turned into a digital state under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the supervision of the premier's ICT Affairs Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
Info Min: DSA to ensure digital security for all
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has said that the Digital Security Act (DSA) is for ensuring digital security of all people of the country.
"The law is not only for the persons of special professions, but it is also for all people to ensure their digital security. Such laws have been enacted almost all countries of the world," he said on Tuesday.
The minister made the remarks at an online seminar on “Fact and Impact of Digital Security Act” through from his Secretariat office organized by diplomats, a non-government organization, at a hotel in the city.
State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak presided over the meeting while Attorney General Abu Md Amin Uddin and Awami League Deputy Publicity Secretary Aminul Islam Amin spoke it as special guests.
Also Read- 2 cases filed under DSA for spreading 'propaganda' against information minister
Barrister SM Shafiullha Rahman, Barrister Ali Asif Khan Rajib and Professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman Kajal took part in the discussion.
Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, said the digital issue is now a reality and many countries have enacted such laws.
"The law is for all, including housewives, farmers, rickshaw pullers, officials and journalists," he said.
The minister said the law was not necessary when the issue of digital system did not exist. But currently it is needed to ensure digital security of the people to save them from harassment on digital platforms, he added.
Also Read- BFUJ calls for amendment and implementation of ninth wage board award
He said such laws are available in India named “The Information Technology Act 2000”, in Pakistan named “The Prevention of Crime Act 2016”. Such laws also exist in Singapore, Australia and other European countries, he added.
On Tuesday, two ruling party leaders filed separate cases under the DSA seeking action against people posting and sharing photos of the information minister with “false and fabricated” information.
The minister said the chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information of the United Kingdom has informed him that it was tough to arrest the persons who were plotting conspiracies or spreading rumors through fake ID or from abroad. That time they have fined the service providers, he added.
Hasan Mahmud said such laws of taking actions against those persons and the social platforms are available at almost all countries if they want to create instability through Facebook, Youtube or other social media.
Also Read- Law Minister: Journos can’t be arrested immediately in DSA case
He said about only 5 million people used internet in the country before the ruling party formed the government in 2009 and currently over 110 million people are using internet service. About 80 million people are using the social platforms, he added.
The minister said there were few online newspapers before the Awami League formed the government. And now, there are hundreds of online newspapers across the country.
"We are observing that people are facing different obstacle situations and different crimes are taking place through online," he said.
Referring to some incidents, Hasan said: "We saw that the Ramu incident was held due to spreading propaganda in social media. The incidents which took place in the recent Durga Puja were also held for spreading propaganda through social platforms."
Also Read- Inu seeks revision of DSA
For this, he said, there is no scope of spreading confusion of the act. It is responsibility of the state to provide digital security to the countrymen. But the government remains alert so that none can misuse the act, he added.
Palak said Bangladesh has been turned into a digital state under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the supervision of the premier's ICT Affairs Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
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