The United Nations High Commission on Human Rights has demanded the repeal of two sections of the Digital Security Act, besides they have also demanded compensation to the victims in the cases filed under these two clauses.
Michelle Bachelet, who visited Dhaka, made these demands in a meeting held at Rashtriya Guest House Padma on August 14. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Law Minister Anisul Haque, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and related officials were present in the meeting.
After the meeting, Law Minister Anisul Haque told reporters, "There was a discussion about the Digital Security Act, freedom of media and freedom of expression and writer Mushtaq Ahmed who died in prison in the Digital Security Act case."
When she asked about Mushtaq, I read the postmortem report to him. Then she did not ask any more questions, he added.
According to source, in the meeting of Padma, the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights urged the amendment of six other articles, including the cancellation of two articles of the law.
Apart from this, the death of free-spirited writer Mushtaq Ahmed in prison, the granting of bail to cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore after 10 months of imprisonment, and journalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol's long absence and imprisonment due to sharing an article on social media were also discussed
Along with these persons, compensation is demanded for those who have suffered in the case under this Act, source added.
The United Nations High Commission for Human Rights has been demanding the direct cancellation of Articles 21 and 28 since the law was enacted. Even in these two clauses, all the cases that have happened in the country in the past and those who have been affected are asked to pay compensation. They also demand amendment of sections 27, 29, 31, 32, 43 and 53 of the Act. Among these, Article 29 calls for harmonization with the Penal Code on defamation and Article 32 on matters related to official secrecy.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
