Digital Security Act Will Not Harass Journalist: Inu

He urges media people to work as vanguards of democracy

 

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu has said the government will formulate the Digital Security Act to ensure common people’s digital security, not to harass journalists.

“We’re going to enact the Digital Security Act to ensure the security of your digital information as well as the country’s security. It’s also meant to protect our democracy and society as well,” he said.

The minister came up with the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural session of the annual conference of the district correspondents of United News of Bangladesh (UNB) at its Cosmos Centre conference room in the city on Thursday, 16 November.

Urging journalists to take the proposed digital security law in positive light, he assured them that it will cause no harm to them as it is going to be passed for the protection of the country’s people.

Minister of State for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak made a presentation, titled ‘Digital Bangladesh: A Story of Transformation’, at the programme.

Former Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, UNB Chairman Amanullah Khan, its Editor-inChief Enayetullah Khan, Director Nahar Khan and Editor SAM Mahfuzur Rahman also spoke on the occasion.

 About the media’s role, Inu said it creates and guards the nation’s conscience, and the main function of the media and journalists is to keep the process of honesty and equity functioning properly.

Stressing that information is not a commodity in a general sense, he said that is the reason why a journalist has an onerous social responsibility to release correct information. “Due to your social responsibility, you shouldn’t publish any information that is likely to provoke communal riots. Democracy doesn’t allow incitement and creation of division among people in the name of free expression of opinion.”