DHAKA, BANGLADESH (TEH) – The Bangladesh government’s decision to repeal the controversial Digital Security Act of 2018 has been met with widespread international approval. The move, announced in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 7, has been hailed as a significant stride towards safeguarding freedom of expression and media rights in the country. However, the global community and journalists worldwide are urging the government to take the next crucial step: absolving all journalists of charges under the now-defunct law.
The international community, including human rights organizations and foreign governments, has welcomed the repeal of the Act. They have commended the Bangladesh government for listening to the concerns of its citizens and taking a step towards upholding the principles of democracy and freedom of expression.
Journalists around the world have also expressed their appreciation for this significant move. The repeal of the Act is seen as a victory for press freedom in Bangladesh, a country where journalists have often faced threats, legal action, and even imprisonment for their work.
However, the applause comes with a call for further action. The international community and journalists worldwide are urging the Bangladesh government to drop all charges against journalists that were filed under the repealed Digital Security Act. This, they believe, would be a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to protecting the freedom of the media and the right to freedom of thought and expression.
The decision to replace the Digital Security Act with the Cyber Security Act-2023 has also been noted by the international community. They are hopeful that the new law will not be used as a tool to stifle freedom of expression and dissent, as was the case with its predecessor.
The repeal of the Digital Security Act is a significant victory for all those who have been campaigning for its abolition. However, the real victory will be when the government ensures that no journalist or citizen is penalized for exercising their right to freedom of expression.
The international community and journalists worldwide stand in solidarity with their counterparts in Bangladesh, ready to applaud the government’s next move towards upholding media freedom and freedom of expression.
