Law, justice and parliamentary affairs adviser Asif Nazrul on Friday said that the lawsuits filed over ‘speech offence’ would be dismissed simultaneously with the repeal of the Digital Security Act.
‘We are repealing the Digital Security Act and made the announcement long ago. There are some cases filed over ‘speech offences’... all those cases will be dismissed automatically,’ he said while addressing the DRU-Desh TV Best Reporting Award-2024 as chief guest at Dhaka Club.
‘The cases those were filed against free minded people, people of different opinions, people who have been implicated in cases for their speeches and for their dissenting opinions... will be dismissed simultaneously with the repeal of the DSA.’
The law adviser, however, said that the trial of the cases lodged over computer offence, like hacking, fraud and blackmailing would continue.
Castigating a section of journalist leaders, the adviser said that they only worked to make their own fortune, not for changing lots of the common journalists.
‘There are some so-called journalist leaders, who are actually neither journalist, nor leaders. By holding the ordinary journalists hostages, they made huge money, became owners of houses and cars and became influential,’ the adviser observed.
The present interim government had done nothing for harassment of the journalists. Neither the government nor the police filed any case against journalists, he added.
Addressing the function as special guest, environment, forests and climate change adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said that fearless and neutral journalism was very crucial for protecting democracy and environment. ‘The present government is firmly committed to create congenial atmosphere for journalism,’ she added.
Presided over by Dhaka Reporters Unity president Syed Shukur Ali Shuvo, the function was conducted by DRU general secretary Mohi Uddin.
