Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister AnisulHuq on Wednesday said Digital Security Act (DSA) will not be repealed.
"I want to say it clearly that the DSA will not be repealed. Like all other acts, this one too will have provision for the protection of the honest journalists," he said.
The minister said these while addressing a discussion titled "Shaping A
Future of Rights" organised by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) marking World Press Freedom Day in the capital.
"The present government is working to stop the misuse of the DSA. I am telling this once again, this act was formulated only to tackle cyber crimes.
I can assure you that the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will never curb the freedom of press," he added.
The law minister further said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had recognised the freedom of press as a fundamental rights in his constitution and his worthy daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also believes in this.
"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, after assuming office for the first time in 1996, gave approval to the country's first private television channel. She has formulated Right to Information Act, gave approval to more than 40 television channels, 22 FM radios and 17 community radios," Anisul mentioned.
Emphasising on the need of an act like DSA, the law minister also said cyber crimes are being committed worldwide through new media and many countries
have similar acts under different names.
Conducted by TOB Executive Director DrIftekharuzzaman, the discussion was
also addressed, among others, by National Human Rights Commission Chairman Dr
Kamal Uddin Ahmed, Swedish Ambassador Alexandra Berg von Linde and UN
Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis.