DHAKA – Hundreds of Bangladeshi journalists took to the streets Thursday to protest against a new digital security bill that campaigners say would damage media freedom in the country.
The Digital Security Act 2018 approved by the cabinet this week would mean a journalist could be convicted of espionage for entering a government office and gathering information secretly using an electronic device, an offense that would carry a 14-year jail sentence.
It also provides for a life sentence for spreading “negative propaganda” about the country’s war of independence or its founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman using a digital device.
Media rights groups including the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have already condemned the bill, which parliament has yet to vote on.
“(The) IFJ believes the proposed act provides more grounds to grossly misuse the provisions to harass journalists and restrict freedom of expression,” the Brussels-based group said….read more