Digital Security Act: Editors’ Council to hold human chain Sept 29

The Shampadak Parishad (Editors’ Council) today announced to hold a human chain in front of the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka on September 29, protesting incorporation of the controversial Digital Security Act-2018.

The human chain will begin around 11:00am on the day where journalists, media bodies and individual media personnel have been requested to join the programme to protest the act, said a press release.

Earlier on September 19, the much-debated Digital Security Bill-2018 was passed in parliament with a harsh provision allowing police officials to search or arrest anyone without any warrant.

The Editors’ Council announced the programme in a meeting held at The Daily Star Centre this afternoon with Reazuddin Ahmed, founding editor of News Today, in the chair.

The council also expressed deep regret at the passage of the Digital Security Act which it considers to be against the freedom guaranteed by the constitution, media freedom and freedom of speech.

The statement was made by: Reazuddin Ahmed, founding editor, News Today; Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, editor, Manabzamin; Matiur Rahman, editor, Prothom Alo; Mahfuz Anam, editor, The Daily Star; Khandaker Muniruzzaman, acting editor, Sangbad; Nurul Kabir, editor, New Age; Imdadul Haq Milan, editor, Kaler Kantho; Naem Nizam, editor, Bangladesh Pratidin; Alamgir Mohiuddin, editor, Naya Diganta; AMM Bahauddin, editor, Daily Inqilab; MA Malek, editor, Dainik Azadi; Md Mozammel Haque, editor, Karatoa; M Shamsur Rahman, editor, The Independent; Saiful Alam, acting editor, Jugantor; Dewan Hanif Mahmud, editor, Bonik Barta; Zafar Sobhan, editor, Dhaka Tribune; Sabuj Younus, associate editor, Samakal; and Shamsul Huq Zahid, joint editor of Financial Express.

Source: The Daily Star