Bangladesh government tells foreign diplomats why Digital Security Act is ‘necessary’

The government has briefed the Dhaka-based diplomats about the necessity of the Digital Security Act and the details of the verdict in the case of August 21, 2004 grenade attack.

The foreign ministry said Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali and Minister for Law Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Anisul Huq sat down with the diplomatic corps on Sunday at the State Guest House Padma.

On the Digital Security Act, the foreign minister, referring to the provisions of ICCPR and European Convention Human Rights, explained why such law is “necessary to ensure public safety and order”.

Addressing the concerns raised by certain members of diplomatic corps, the law minister told them that the law has been finalised after intensive consultations with the Editors’ Council and other journalist groups as well as diplomats.

He reiterated that the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has “no intention to curb freedom of expression which lays foundation of its democratic governance and the law would rather ensure people’s right to safe digital space”.

File Photo: Journalists have protested against the Digital Security Act over concerns that the law may curb freedom of expression. Mahmud Zaman Ovi

As regards the August 21, 2004 grenade attack, the foreign minister narrated the incidents that took place in a political rally organised by the then opposition Awami League.

Former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar is among the 19 sentenced to life and acting BNP chief Tarique Rahman, son of the then prime minister Khaleda Zia, has been handed life term along wth 18 others in a court verdict on Oct 10.

The case involves the brazen attack that targeted Hasina, who was the opposition leader at the time and now the prime minister of Bangladesh. She survived with a partial hearing loss.

The attack left 24 individuals including the leader of Awami Women’s League dead and many injured.

Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali told the diplomats how the then BNP-led coalition government interfered in the investigation and derailed the process of justice.

He also said the attack was planned and executed under direct supervision of Tarique Rahman, who now remains fugitive.

The minister referred to the European Parliament’s Resolutions of 2014 and the recent verdicts of Canadian Federal Court declaring BNP “as an entity that engages in terrorism and violent extremism”.

Law Minister Anisul stated that the trial has gone through due process of law, with 225 witnesses in total having been heard. The defence was allowed to exercise all rights guaranteed to them under the law.

Afterwards, in the context of International Day against Death Penalty, the EU ambassadors raised their general reservation about death penalty and asked whether Bangladesh plans to abolish or put moratorium on death penalty, the foreign ministry said.

The foreign minister stated that “Bangladesh is not abolishing the death penalty considering its public opinion and socio-political reality”.

The diplomats "appreciated the briefing," the foreign ministry added.