Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today
suggested all to read the Cyber Security Bill, passed in the parliament on
Wednesday, first before criticizing it as all concerns were addressed into the
new act.
“Someone may criticize the new act to get compassion from the foreigners,” he
told reporters when responding to a question at a media briefing at the
foreign ministry here.
The foreign minister said that though people criticise the law, they usually
come forward to seek help if they get in any trouble.
“What would you do when someone write something bad about your mother or
sister on internet?” he raised the question.
State minister for foreign affairs Md Shahriar Alam also spoke at the
briefing.
Alam said there were some observations by some foreign countries regarding the
previous Digital Security Act while the new act addressed those observations
and accommodated all concerns.
“We truly expect, all will accept it in a good spirit,” he said.
The State Minister said there are more notorious laws in the Western world
compared to Bangladesh and due to lack of knowledge proper comparison are not
seen in practice.
The Cyber Security Bill 2023 was passed in parliament on Wednesday with a
provision making offences under four of its sections non-bailable while the
previous Digital Security Act made offences under 14 sections were non-
bailable.
Meanwhile, the European Parliament moved a joint non-legislative resolution
expressing concerns over the deterioration of the human rights situation in
Bangladesh.
Regarding the proposed EU resolution, the state minister expressed hope that
the European Parliament would refrain from interfering in Bangladesh’s
internal matters, particularly those under legal proceedings in our courts.
He said that the government cannot sit idle closing eyes if there is any
propaganda against Bangladesh.
“We hope common sense (in EU parliament) will prevail,” he added.
In a statement this afternoon the US embassy here said Washington regretted
that the Bangladesh government did not give stakeholders adequate opportunity
to review and provide input to the new law to ensure it meets international
standards.
“Unfortunately, the CSA (cyber security act) retains many aspects of its
predecessor, the Digital Security Act. The new legislation continues to
criminalize freedom of expression, retains non-bailable offenses, and too
easily could be misused to arrest, detain, and silence critics,” read the
statement.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)