CSA addresses concerns raised by the west: MoFA

Staff Reporter :
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has asserted that the newly enacted Cyber Security Act (CSA) has addressed the concerns previously expressed by Western entities, notably the United States and the European Union, regarding the Digital Security Act (DSA).

“The previous DSA has been repealed, and the CSA has been enacted. Stakeholders, the journalistic community and human rights organisations raised concerns about the DSA.

But the new law accommodates everything that was of concern in the previous law,” State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam said on Thursday.

He made the remarks following the questions of the journalists at the Foreign Ministry on the occasion of curtain raiser programme to inform about the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to New York to addend the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations.

“Representatives of some countries or organisations, especially the European Union and the United States held regular meetings with us regarding the previous law (DSA).

Their overall concerns have been addressed in the CSA,” he said.

“Compared to CSA of Bangladesh, there are even more notorious laws in Western countries.

We cannot make a comparison due to the lack of knowledge on your part and mine.

Please read the law first, then comment,” Shahriar said.

In reply to another question that no one in Bangladesh has welcomed the law, the State Minister said, “If anyone has criticised the law within 24 hours of its passage, those who have criticised it, please provide us with their list.”

Commenting on the CSA, Foreign Minister Dr Abdul Momen said, “If someone posts inappropriate content about your mother or sister on a website, what will you do? If anyone writes such things, you will scold the government.”

He further said, “If you first listen to the statement made by our ICT Minister in parliament, then you will understand.

When someone gets into trouble, then criticise the government.

First, read the law to see what kind of law it is.

Then file a complaint.

Some people complain to get the sympathy of foreign parties.”

On Wednesday, the Parliament passed the Cyber Security Bill, despite opposition lawmakers’ protests, who argued that it was nothing but putting old wine in a new bottle.

Members of the Jatiya Party and Gonoforum, echoing concerns about the Digital Security Act, asserted that the new law would continue to impede people’s rights to freedom of expression, thought, and media freedom.

The Cyber Security Bill repeals the previously debated and criticised Digital Security Act, with rights activists and journalist organisations noting that many of the contentious provisions from the former legislation have been carried over into the new law.