Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of democracy, and a country which silences and punishes people for telling the truth is no democracy at all. But the draft Digital Security Act 2018, if signed into law, will make it much harder for journalists, online activists, and even lawyers to do their jobs without fear of harassment at the hand of law enforcement. Not only does the law appear to contradict the principles of press freedom and transparency in state affairs, it raises more questions than it answers. Bangladesh is, sadly, ranked 146 in Reporters Without Borders’ Press Freedom Index, and the introduction of the draft Digital Security Act 2018 only threatens to make it worse. The Digital Security Act 2018 is a draconian law that will take us backwards: We do not wish to live in a society where freedom is a myth, where powerful officials are not held accountable for their actions, and where journalists are locked up for doing their job.

Source: Dhaka Tribune January 31, 2018 12:22 UTC