Dhaka:Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal stated that the government would not suppress freedom of expression under the guise of security, nor permit the spread of disinformation to tarnish anyone's dignity.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the Deputy Speaker made these remarks at a seminar titled "Challenges to Security and Human Rights in the Digital Age Curbing Misinformation and Disinformation in the Bangladesh Context." The event was organized by the Faculty of Security and Strategic Studies of Bangladesh University of Professionals in the capital.
Kamal highlighted the misuse of strict digital security laws by the previous government, which included the ICT Act, the Digital Security Act, and the Cyber Security Act, as tools to silence dissent. He emphasized the current government's commitment to preventing a recurrence of such practices. Addressing students, he urged them to be ambassadors of truth and to prioritize human dignity over digital popularity, encouraging them to verify information before sharing it online.
He paid tribute to BUP alumnus Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho and others who lost their lives during the July 2024 uprising, recognizing the students' role in opposing a long-standing authoritarian regime and maintaining the truth despite an internet shutdown. Kamal also emphasized the threat posed by misinformation and disinformation to security and human dignity and advocated for the inclusion of digital literacy and responsible online behavior in educational curricula.
The seminar also featured speeches from PM's Policy and Strategy Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, Chairman of the Osmani Centre for Peace and Security Studies Lt Gen (retd) Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman, and BUP Department of Law assistant professors Preeti Kona Shikder and Wakila Hossain. The event was attended by the BUP Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, teachers, and students.