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A few days after journalist Shafiqul Islam was sent to jail, a case was filed against 11 other people, including writers, journalists, and comic artists for allegedly spreading rumors, and the arrest of 4 people is reprehensible.
According to the lawsuit, 11 people have been charged under the Digital Security Law for spreading rumors, drawing caricatures of leaders, and conducting anti-government campaigns. In addition, six journalists have been arrested for reporting corruption in relief distribution.
According to article 19 of the UK-based human rights organization, 100 people have been sued under the Digital Security Act from January 1 to May 7 this year. 22 of them are journalists. There is no doubt that the purpose of these cases is to deprive them of freedom of expression. When the law was passed in 2016, it was said that it would not be used against journalists. But it turns out that journalists are being arbitrarily abused. As a result, the freedom of the media in Bangladesh has been further reduced.
The way the four were arrested for spreading rumors violated the fundamental rights of citizens. What message does the government want to deliver to people by arresting someone before presenting a case and sending news to their home or taking someone from their home in the name of interrogation? The complaints made against the interested parties are trivial and irrational. In a democratic system, criticism of the government is not considered anti-state. Posting a photo of a deputy cutting raw rice on Facebook or drawing a cartoon of a leader cannot be a criminal offense.
And the right remedy for rumors is the right information. In this crisis of the Corona epidemic, when the need for an adequate flow of information has increased, there has been an increase in the use of black law against journalists and conscientious citizens to prevent it. Journalists’ right to ask questions about the crown is even being violated. These are not acceptable in any way.
Those arrested for abusing the Digital Security Law should be released. This black law, which is against civil rights and press freedom, must be repealed.
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