M Humayun Kabir: Reiterating its concerns over the Digital Security Act, 2018, the European Union has labelled it as a threat to freedom of expression.
The law can potentially be used to suppress and criminalise legitimate exercise of freedom of expression and freedom of the media, the EU said, in a joint statement issued yesterday, reports The Daily Star.
They called upon the government to continue talks with stakeholders to align the law with universal declaration of human rights as well as the constitution of Bangladesh.
Signatories of the statement are ambassador of the EU and ambassadors of Italy, Spain, Sweden, France, Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Norway and Switzerland.
Rights activists have termed the Digital Security Act, 2018, as a “black law” that threatens the media and expression of freedom.
Newspaper editors of Bangladesh have denounced the law, saying it will curb free journalism and speech, and called for demonstration against it on upcoming Saturday.
Digital Security Act, 2018 was passed in parliament on September 19.
Before passage of the law, the government held discussions with the stakeholders but their suggestions were completely ignored, said the newspaper editors.
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