By Zahid Al Amin :: The new Digital Security Act is a big blow to the Investigative Journalism in Bangladesh. It will rather be a safeguard of the undemocratic, autocratic ruling government!
Let’s read carefully the section 32 of the Draft of Digital Security Act. It has been mentioned here, if any person keeps, sends or preserves any secret information by intruding into any government, semi-government, autonomous or statutory body through computers, digital machines, computer or digital networks or any electronic medium, the activity will be regarded as a computer or digital espionage crime.
Such an offence will carry a maximum jail term of 14 years or a fine of 250 thousand euro or both.
When the newly drafted the Digital Security Act will be implemented, what I understand that the Investigative Journalism will be buried! And investigative journalists will be considered as spy.
Last night, I had a long telephone conversation with a journalist colleague about the prospect of investigative journalism in Bangladesh. We even planned to invest a little amout of money from our own earning to inspire journalists for investigative reports. Now, I don’t know who will be agreed to take this challenge and produce investigative report? How many journalists will show thumbs to the 14 years rigorous imprisonment and 200 thousand euro as fine?
Rest in peace: Freedom of speech, Freedom of expression and Freedom of Press in Bangladesh!
[Collected from the author’s Facebook post]