Volker Türk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations, urged Bangladesh to halt the Digital Security Act right away.
“I am concerned that the Digital Security Act is being used across Bangladesh to arrest, harass and intimidate journalists and human rights defenders, and to muzzle critical voices online,” Türk said in a press release.
“I call again on the authorities to impose an immediate moratorium on its use and to reform comprehensively its provisions to bring them in line with the requirements of international human rights law. My office has already provided detailed technical comments to assist with such a revision.”
The Digital Security Act, which went into effect on October 1st, 2018, has reportedly been the subject of more than 2,000 cases, according to the UN rights organization. The latest, on 29 March, featured Shams Zaman, a journalist working for the country’s largest daily newspaper Prothom Alo.
During a home investigation, he was detained and his laptop, phone, and other equipment were taken. His request for bail was denied, the news release continues.
“A second case has been filed against the editor of Prothom Alo, Matiur Rahman, and a photographer. The case is based on their reporting of the cost-of-living crisis in Bangladesh,” the press release adds.
“My office has consistently raised concerns about the overly broad and ill-defined provisions of the Digital Security Act,” Türk said.
The UN rights chief said the government has promised there will be safeguards against the arbitrary or excessive application of the law but that is not enough when arrests continue.
“The law itself needs a proper overhaul.”
The high commissioner demanded the formation of an impartial judicial group to examine all cases still pending under the Digital Security Act with a view to releasing those accused.
Adilur Rahman Khan and Nasiruddin Elan, who worked for the deregistered human rights group Odhikar, are currently on trial for allegedly fabricating information about claimed human rights violations in a case that dates back to 2013.
A young man named Poritosh Sarkar was sentenced to five years in jail in accordance with this law after being accused of offending religious feelings in a Facebook post, according to the press release.
