Online Desk/

UN human rights chief Volker Turk has called on the authorities to immediately suspend the implementation of the digital security law in Bangladesh. He made this call in the context of the case against the editor of Prothom Alo and the arrest of the newspaper’s journalist Shamsuzzaman Shams.

“I am concerned that the Digital Security Act is being used to arrest, harass and intimidate journalists and human rights defenders in Bangladesh and to silence critical voices of the government online,” he said in a statement on Friday.

He said, “I urge the authorities to immediately suspend the use of this law again and comprehensively reform its provisions to bring them in line with international human rights law.” My office has already provided detailed technical comments to assist in such revisions.’

The statement said that more than 2,000 cases have been filed under the Act since its implementation on October 1, 2018. The latest case has been filed against Daily Prothom Alo journalist Shams. After his arrest, his bail application was rejected.

Another case has been filed against Prothom Alo editor Motiur Rahman and a photographer. The case is based on reports on the cost of living crisis in Bangladesh.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volcker has expressed continued concern about the law’s overly broad and ill-defined provisions, the statement said. The Government of Bangladesh has promised that there will be safeguards against arbitrary or excessive application of the law. But it is not enough if arrests continue like this. This law needs to be amended.

The UN human rights chief called for an independent judicial panel to review all cases brought under the law. He also reiterated his concern over the ongoing trial of Adilur Rahman Khan and Naseeruddin Elan, head of human rights organization Odhikar.

Concerns of the United States: The United States has expressed deep concern about the way the Bangladesh government is implementing the Digital Security Act. The US State Department has expressed concern that freedom of speech for all, including the media, is an important element of democracy, especially in an election year (in Bangladesh).

In response to a journalist’s question at the regular press briefing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, the Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vedant Patel, said these things. He said that no media worker should be threatened, harassed, physically assaulted or arrested for performing his duties.