Editors’ Council’s demo Monday

After seeing no progress in talks with ministers for amendment to the Digital Security Act, the Editors’ Council will hold its earlier postponed human chain programme in the city on Monday.

The editors of the national dailies, at a press conference on Saturday, announced the demonstration exclusively by the members of the council in front of National Press Club.

The Editors’ Council reiterated its demand for amendment to a number of provisions of the newly enacted law which, journalists and stakeholders say, has threatened freedom of expression and pursuit of independent journalism.
Read more: Editors' Council concerned at proposed digital act

They were due to form a human chain on 29 October but suspended the programme following a request from the information minister, Hasanul Haq Inu, for holding talks with the government.

Three ministers including Inu and law minister and the information adviser to the prime minister held talks with the Editors’ Council members, assuring them of further talks with endorsement of the cabinet. But no such talks were held and the president gave his assent to the controversial law despite controversies.

“That’s a violation of commitment,” Shyamal Dutta, member of the council and editor of Bhorer Kagoj, said at the press conference, reading out the programme and the council’s demands.

Read more:'Why we oppose Digital Security Act'

The Editors’ Council demanded that the controversial sections of the law should be amended within a short time, during the current session of parliament.

The council’s general secretary and The Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam explained that the journalists want amendment to some provisions of the law, not scrapping of the law. “Such changes are possible and we hope, the relevant sections will be amended to make it a law proper,” he added.