Gowher Rizvi hints at amendment of Digital Security Act after polls

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s international affairs advisor Gowher Rizvi on Thursday said that there is possibility of amending the controversial Digital Security Act after the 30 December election.  

Rizvi came up with the remark following some media personalities’ strong criticism of the act at a seminar organised by Transparency International Bangladesh. 

Terming freedom of expression as foundation of civilization, Rizvi said, “Digital Security Act would be amended after parliamentary election following discussion with media and civil society members.”

Chairperson of TIB trustee board Sultana Kamal said that the government has created an environment of fear through passing the Digital Security Act.

“This law would hamper investigative journalism,” she added.

TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman, journalist Abul Momen, Prothom Alo’s feature editor Sumana Sharmin, DBC television’s editor Jahidul Hasan Pintu and UNB’s executive editor Riaz Ahmed also spoke at the programme.

TIB also handed over ‘Investigative Journalism Award-2018’ to six journalists and two television programmes at the programme.

Prothom Alo’s senior reporter Md Anowar Hossain got the best reporter award in the category of print media.

The other award winners were Samakal’s Rajib Noor, Jahidur Rahman, Khulna’s Doinik Probaho’s Muhammad Nuruzzaman, Maasranga TV’s Utpal Mirza, Ekattor TV’s Mufti Parvez Nadir Reza, Independent TV’s ‘Taalash’ and Jamuna TV’s ‘360 Degree’.