President gives assent to Digital Security Bill 2018

Secretariat Correspondent: President Abdul Hamid has given his assent to the Digital Security Bill 2018, making it a law.

Joynal Abedin, press secretary to the president, confirmed the assent of the President on Monday afternoon.

The press secretary said, the President signed seven bills including the Digital Security Bill.

On September 19, the bill was passed in the national parliament through criticism from various levels of the country. Following the law, from now police will be allowed to arrest and search individuals without a warrant and approval. 

Earlier on October 3, the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the media “need not have anything to worry unless it is publishing fake news”.

Following parliament’s clearance to the bill, the Editors’ Council, the platform of the editors of the daily newspapers in Dhaka, in a joint statement published on 29 September presented their collective arguments why it opposed the Digital Security Act.

The council expressed concern specifically over nine sections of the act -- 8, 21, 25, 28, 29, 31, 32, 43 and 53 -- terming them dangerous for the media and freedom of speech and expression.

risingbd/Dhaka/Oct 8, 2018/Hasan/Nasim