Ganajagaran Mancha asks government to revoke Section 57 of ICT Act, lift charges against journalist

Ganajagaran Mancha has demanded of the government to revoke the Section 57 of the ICT Act which the secular platform threatens to render independence of Bangladesh meaningless.

It has pointed out that even the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami could not dare to enact such a ‘black law’.

Speakers at a Shahbagh rally made the demand also asked for the withdrawal of a case filed under it against journalist Probir Sikdar.

Mancha spokesperson Imran H Sarker said the section went against the people and the Constitution.

"Everyone will have to be vocal against the section," he said.

"Anyone can be jailed under this law for expressing their opinion. Such a dark law like this Section 57 can even make the independence of Bangladesh meaningless," he added.

The Ganajagaran Mancha activists marched down the streets from Shahbagh to TSC before dispersing at the Prajanma Chattar after the rally in support of their demands.

"We have been speaking against the Section 57 since 2006, because it will violate people's right to free speech," Sarker said.  

"So, the section contradictory to the Constitution cannot be retained, it will have to be revoked," he added.

Sculptor Rasha said, "Journalist Probir Sikdar, a member of a family martyred in the Liberation War, was brutally tortured for only writing against a Peace Committee member and his relatives."

After the rally, the Shahbagh activists greeted Sikdar with flower. 

"I am not rattled by the case against me," Sikdar said, and joined demand to abolish Section 57.