DSA cases scrapped, evidence needed for arrests

NN Online :
Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul has said all cases under the Digital Security Act (DSA)  have been withdrawn.
While speaking at a dialogue, he said they have also instructed that no one should be arrested without substantial evidence.
The Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) hosted the dialogue at the CIRDAP Auditorium (Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific) to discuss reforms related to the mass media.
“While there may not have been much in the media, there has been a lot of misinformation spread on social media. None of us have filed cases over this misinformation, nor have we protested we’ve left it to the people of the country. If a certain group sees an opportunity for business in filing cases, then there’s nothing we can do about it,” said the Law Adviser.
There were 266 cases filed against journalists, but only 15 were arrested, he said.
“Those who were named were charged for insider crimes or related amendments. We have no role in the cases they were filed by ordinary citizens,” Asif Nazrul said.
Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, Chief, Electoral Reform Commission; Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser; Dr Shahidul Alam, founder, Drik Picture Library and photojournalist; Mojibur Rahman Monju, Chairman of AB Party; Ruhin Hossain Prince, General Secretary, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB); journalist Parveen F Chowdhury; Sohrab Hassan, Joint Editor, Prothm Alo; M A Aziz, Bangladesh Correspondent, Irrawaddy; Zahed Ur Rahman, political analyst; Dr. Shakhawat Hossain Sayantha, General Secretary, G-9, Bobby Hajjaj, Chairman, Nationalist Democratic Movement; Parvez Karim Abbasi, Assistant Professor, East West University, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Governance Studies; journalists Md Muktadir Rashid; Zyma Islam and Qadaruddin Shishir spoke at the event.
Moderating the session, Zillur Rahman said the media and related institutions have not really discussed the issue of media reform or the commission’s report.
“There hasn’t been much discussion on television, nor have there been writings in newspapers. There’s been no dialogue on what kind of reforms are needed, how constructive the commission’s report is, or what its weaknesses are,” he said.
Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar said most television channels, in order to secure licenses, included favourable statements in their applications to please the government.