The Digital Security Act (DSA) 2018, as a restrictive law has been long demanded to be repealed by the journalists, human rights organisations and various CSOs. At a recent press conference, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Anisul Haque acknowledged the misapplication of the law and asked not to arrest the journalists immediately if a case is filed against them under the DSA. The accused journalist must be served summon. He will get a chance to seek bail in the court after the case is filed. If a case is filed under this Act, it will immediately go to a cell under the ICT Act 2006. The case will be taken into cognisance when the cell investigates and finds the merit of the case.
Human rights groups have long claimed that the DSA has been used to impede freedom of expression and opinion which has been substantiated through the Minister’s statement. Besides, even before the law was passed, there were concerns among the concerned citizens including journalists about various sections of the law. The constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression of the citizens is being curtailed through this law. Hundreds of people are made the victim of lawsuit and are being imprisoned as a result of misapplication of the law.
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) thinks that annulment of this law will open the door for the citizens to express their views freely.

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