Cyber Security Act should not have same repressive features of the DSA: AI

Staff Reporter  :
Welcoming the government’s decision to repeal the Digital Security Act (DSA), the Amnesty International (AI) said that the new Cyber Security Act (CSA) should not have the same repressive features of the DSA.

The organisation has also called upon the government of Bangladesh to immediately release and drop all charges against those individuals who were charged under the DSA.

“Amnesty International welcomes the decision of the government to repeal the DSA, a draconian law which was weaponised by the ruling party and its affiliates to stifle dissent and thwart freedom of expression online,” AI South Asia, Regional Office, tweeted on Monday.

“However, the government must ensure that the Cyber Security Act it plans replace DSA with does not rehash the same repressive features of the DSA,” it read.

“The government must also ensure that all stakeholders have sufficient opportunity to scrutinise and make recommendations on the proposed new law before it is enacted, and that its provisions fully comply with international human rights law,” it pointed out.

“We also urge the Bangladeshi authorities to immediately and unconditionally release and drop all charges against all those charged under the DSA solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression,” the organisation said.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Abu Mohammad Amin Uddin told the media that all the ongoing cases filed under the DSA would persist and no cases will be dismissed.

The DSA has been a subject of concern and criticism both from the international community and local organisations including the opposition political parties since its introduction.

Many considered it a “draconian law” due to its potential for misuse and suppression of freedom of expression.

Human rights organisations had raised alarms about the law’s broad and vague provisions, which allow for the arbitrary arrest and detention of individuals, particularly opposition political leaders, journalists, bloggers, and activists who express dissenting opinions online.

Finally the government on Monday announced that the law will be repealed and a new law ‘Cyber Security Act’ will be enacted in place of it.

But different quarters including the opposition parties, especially BNP has decried that this new Act will be more horrific than the DSA.