Digital Security Bill sent to president for approval
The much-talked-about Digital Security Bill, 2018, was sent to the office of President Abdul Hamid for his approval yesterday. Amid objections from journalists and rights activists, Parliament had passed the Bill on September 19 with voice vote after it was moved by posts, telecommunication and ICT minister Mustafa Jabbar. Sources in Bangabhaban said the President was yet to sign the Bill till yesterday evening. Parliament Secretariat sources also confirmed that they had sent two files, including the Digital Security Bill, for the Presidents approval.
Of them, Bangabhaban returned the file with the Presidents order on summoning the next Parliament session on October 21. But the Digital Security Bill was yet to be sent back from Bangabhaban, the sources said. Officials at THE Parliament Secretariat should communicate with their counterparts at Bangabhaban to know whether the Bill was signed or not, a senior official said preferring anonymity.
Sources said 18 Bills were passed in the last session of Parliament and 11 of them were approved by the President. However, the seven other Bills, including the Digital Security Bill, were yet to get Presidential approval. Sources said it took time to send the Bills to the President as Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was travelling to Belgium after the proroguing the session. The file was prepared on Wednesday and sent to Bangabhaban yesterday, the sources added.
The Editors Council, several journalists and rights organisations have opposed different sections like 21, 25, 28, 31, 32 and 43 of the new Bill, saying that they would muzzle press freedom. They have also urged the President not to sign the Bill.
