The rate of suing people, mostly professionals, by powerful quarters under a controversial provision of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Act has doubled this year.
As many as 19 journalists have been implicated in cases filed under article 57 of the act since January. Eleven of these cases were filed by persons close to members of parliament (MPs) and ministers.
The number of cases filed under ICT Act was 42 in January and this rose to 79 in June, according to statistics available with the police headquarters.
In the six months, a total of 391 cases were recorded and 785 people accused, of whom 313 were arrested.
Ninety three more cases were filed, under the Pornography Control Act and 85 more under the Anti-terrorism Act during the period.
“Most of the cases recorded at the thana level are filed under the section 57 of ICT Act,” a police officer told Prothom Alo, seeking anonymity, adding that the matter has been conveyed to the police headquarters.
The latest case is Abdul Latif Morol, a journalist hailed from Khulna, who was arrested on Tuesday after he had been implicated in a case filed under section 57.
He has been sued allegedly for defaming state minister for fisheries and livestock Narayon Chandra Chanda by posting news of the death of a goat on Facebook. A local journalist, Subrato Fowzdar, is the plaintiff of the case.
When asked, information commissioner M Golam Rahman said, "I am personally in favour of scraping this section. This act was formulated to ensure that the people safely use the information technology. But the lawmakers out of whim made it non-bailable. As it is harsh, this act is being misused as well."
There are criticisms that section 57 curbs freedom of expression as enshrined in article 39 of the constitution. Thus, people from different strata and professions are being harrassed by it.
Although information minister Hasanul Haq Inu has taken his position in favour of retaining this act, the law minister, Anisul Huq, said a new law styled Digital Security Act will be enacted soon and the current problem will be resolve then.
Officials say the provision contained in section 57 will be inserted in the section 19 of the proposed Digital Security Act. In its draft, reduction in punishment and making the case bailable have been proposed.
More to follow....
The rate of suing people, mostly professionals, by powerful quarters under a controversial provision of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Act has doubled this year.
As many as 19 journalists have been implicated in cases filed under article 57 of the act since January. Eleven of these cases were filed by persons close to members of parliament (MPs) and ministers.
The number of cases filed under ICT Act was 42 in January and this rose to 79 in June, according to statistics available with the police headquarters.
In the six months, a total of 391 cases were recorded and 785 people accused, of whom 313 were arrested.
Ninety three more cases were filed, under the Pornography Control Act and 85 more under the Anti-terrorism Act during the period.
“Most of the cases recorded at the thana level are filed under the section 57 of ICT Act,” a police officer told Prothom Alo, seeking anonymity, adding that the matter has been conveyed to the police headquarters.
The latest case is Abdul Latif Morol, a journalist hailed from Khulna, who was arrested on Tuesday after he had been implicated in a case filed under section 57.
He has been sued allegedly for defaming state minister for fisheries and livestock Narayon Chandra Chanda by posting news of the death of a goat on Facebook. A local journalist, Subrato Fowzdar, is the plaintiff of the case.
When asked, information commissioner M Golam Rahman said, "I am personally in favour of scraping this section. This act was formulated to ensure that the people safely use the information technology. But the lawmakers out of whim made it non-bailable. As it is harsh, this act is being misused as well."
There are criticisms that section 57 curbs freedom of expression as enshrined in article 39 of the constitution. Thus, people from different strata and professions are being harrassed by it.
Although information minister Hasanul Haq Inu has taken his position in favour of retaining this act, the law minister, Anisul Huq, said a new law styled Digital Security Act will be enacted soon and the current problem will be resolve then.
Officials say the provision contained in section 57 will be inserted in the section 19 of the proposed Digital Security Act. In its draft, reduction in punishment and making the case bailable have been proposed.
More to follow....
In the six months, a total of 391 cases were recorded and 785 people accused, of whom 313 were arrested.
Ninety three more cases were filed, under the Pornography Control Act and 85 more under the Anti-terrorism Act during the period.
“Most of the cases recorded at the thana level are filed under the section 57 of ICT Act,” a police officer told Prothom Alo, seeking anonymity, adding that the matter has been conveyed to the police headquarters.
The latest case is Abdul Latif Morol, a journalist hailed from Khulna, who was arrested on Tuesday after he had been implicated in a case filed under section 57.
He has been sued allegedly for defaming state minister for fisheries and livestock Narayon Chandra Chanda by posting news of the death of a goat on Facebook. A local journalist, Subrato Fowzdar, is the plaintiff of the case.
When asked, information commissioner M Golam Rahman said, "I am personally in favour of scraping this section. This act was formulated to ensure that the people safely use the information technology. But the lawmakers out of whim made it non-bailable. As it is harsh, this act is being misused as well."
There are criticisms that section 57 curbs freedom of expression as enshrined in article 39 of the constitution. Thus, people from different strata and professions are being harrassed by it.
Although information minister Hasanul Haq Inu has taken his position in favour of retaining this act, the law minister, Anisul Huq, said a new law styled Digital Security Act will be enacted soon and the current problem will be resolve then.
Officials say the provision contained in section 57 will be inserted in the section 19 of the proposed Digital Security Act. In its draft, reduction in punishment and making the case bailable have been proposed.
More to follow....
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