No question of scrapping Digital Security Act: Hasan

Comparing the Digital Security Act (DSA) with the ones in the US and Australia, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said that Bangladesh’s DSA is better than that of those countries.

He also ruled out any possibility of scrapping the DSA despite demands from many rights and journalists’ groups and the civil society. “There is no question of scrapping the DSA,” he said.

The minister came up with the remarks while talking to representatives of Crime Reporters Association in a views-exchange meeting at the Conference Room of the ministry in the capital on Thursday, reports UNB.

He said, “The Law Ministry is working so that journalists are not subjected to harassment due to the DSA, and our law is easier compared to the US.”

Hasan informed that the DSA of the US allows a maximum punishment of 20 years of jail sentence while there is no such long sentence in the DSA in Bangladesh.

Comparing the DSA with the one in the US, the information minister said there is a provision of life imprisonment in the US if someone dies for any digital crime, but the DSA in Bangladesh is easier for similar crimes.

“To provide digital security to people the Act was enacted, and every country has such law. Australia's cyber Act is rougher,” he said.

The information minister said they are more vigilant to protect journalists so that they are not subjected to harassment under the DSA. He said that media people are now being less harassed compared to the past.

Replying to a question, he said the journalists will have to work with courage while threats come from outside while discharging duties.