Minister Inu hints at changes to Digital Security Act, urges media to help fight militancy

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu has hinted at the possibility of revisions to the Digital Security Act and called for cooperation between the government and the media to tackle the threat of militancy and communalism.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 21 Oct 2018, 08:00 AM
Updated : 21 Oct 2018, 04:20 PM

“All laws can be changed or amended,” the minister said at the third national conference organised by Bangladesh Nari Sangbadik Kendra (an organisation that promotes women journalists) at the Press Institute of Bangladesh in Dhaka on Sunday.

“The main threat to democracy, media and a just society is militancy and communalism,” he said. “We must be prepared to deal with that.”

“The threat of militancy has spread to digital society. The government and media must work together to fight this menace,” Inu said.

bdnews24.com’s Editor-in-Chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi was the special guest at the event.

bdnews24.com Editor-in-Chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi attends the third national conference of Bangladesh Nari Sangbadik Kendra at the Press Institute of Bangladesh auditorium on Sunday. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin

SKILLS ARE CRUCIAL

In the 30 years since 1987, women have grown from 4 percent to 13 percent of the journalism workforce. “In the next three years, let’s target 30 percent,” Khalidi said in a proposal to which Inu agreed instantly. 

“But it all depends on acquiring necessary skills. There’s no alternative to efficiency and competence as we try to increase the number of women in our newsrooms as well as on the reporting beats,” Khalidi said.

“Having the necessary skills is crucial. So training is important and it’s much easier now to educate or train yourself, thanks to the internet,” he said.

“There’s been a considerable improvement I believe in creating women-friendly work environment in the media. So just go grab the opportunity.”

The 17-year-old organisation’s third council pulled in participants from all over the country.

Bangladesh Nari Sangbadik Kendra adviser Setara Musa attends the organisation’s third national conference at the Press Institute of Bangladesh auditorium on Sunday. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin

Setara Musa, one of the pioneers, recalled her early days in journalism in the 1950s and was happy to see the auditorium packed with working professionals. “I hope the number will double next year,” said Musa, an octogenarian who came in a wheelchair.

As it was a conference of journalists, Information Minister Inu used the event to defend the recently passed Digital Security Act. His words of defence mirror the government’s previous argument that the law would help prevent digital crimes and stop the spread of extremism.

At the start of October, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that cyber-security was a major issue across the world and that militancy and terrorism was spreading on the digital media, which the government had taken into consideration while crafting the law.

But various journalist organisations have voiced objections to sections of the law, saying they opposed freedom of speech and the freedom of the press.

“I can assure you that this law will not be used as an anti-media tool,” Inu said on Sunday.

Bangladesh Nari Sangbadik Kendra President Nasimun Ara Hoq presides over the organisation’s third national conference at the Press Institute of Bangladesh auditorium on Sunday. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin

The event was chaired by Nari Sangbadik Kendra President Nasimun Ara Hoq. The organisation’s General Secretary Parveen Sultana Jhuma and Treasurer Akhter Jahan Malik also attended the conference held after 11 years.

Hoq presented data to detail the female journalists’ position and work environment in the media. 

“We want appointment and promotion of female journalists based on their eligibility, suitable workplace environment, and training. Women must not face inequality for being women,” she said.  

The number of female journalists has crossed 1,000 from 100 when the organisation started its journey in 2001, according to her.

“Not only inequality and deprivation, female journalists face sexual and other sorts of harassment. They also face different forms of direct and indirect pressure on them,” she said.    

Participants from across the country attend the third national conference of Bangladesh Nari Sangbadik Kendra, which was held after 11 years. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin

The main obstacle to women’s participation in journalism is society’s backward view about women, according to the Nari Sangbadik Kendra president.  

“Our job is to change society’s outlook towards women, create self-confidence among the women and make them skilled and qualified,” she said.

A workshop on female journalists’ work environment and areas was also organised after the opening session of the council.