Shawdesh desk:

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has said that the Digital Security Act in Bangladesh is much simpler compared to the similar laws in other civilised countries, including the United States.

‘Our law is simpler than in other countries,’ she told Voice of America Bangla Service in Washington on Monday.

She, however, said that since the DSA was being discussed so much her government would look into and examine similar digital security laws in the United States, the United Kingdom, European countries and beyond to know how it was applied in those countries and what were the penalties.

‘We are bringing forward the American law to see what is there. We will see that,’ she said hinting that Bangladesh would incorporate if there was a harsher punishment than in Bangladesh’s law and address if any lacking.

The prime minister, now in the United States, made the remarks when the VoA journalist wanted to know how Bangladesh will proceed regarding amendments to the Digital Security Act.

She said if someone was creating social unrest or disrupting people’s security or imparting militancy training or learning bomb making on line then what was the justification that no action could be taken against that person.

‘The issue is that if someone, known as a journalist, tries to steal a file in one of my ministries, should that person be rewarded? If you do it in a civilised country, what action is taken against that person?’ the PM said in countering the question.

Despite being caught red-handed the said journalist was made a hero and awarded, she wondered.

‘While the whole world was in total disarray due to Covid-19, when we were discussing buying vaccines, the officer caught the file thief directly. Then it turned out that the person became a hero and was rewarded. But it doesn’t seem so easy to me. If it were in any other country, developed country or civilised country, then what would they do? The prime minister posed the question.

She said, ‘The digital security law exists not only in Bangladesh, but it is in all countries of the world.’

A greater number of people is using internet and mobile phones more than ever. Out of Bangladesh’s 17 crore people, 12-13 crore people use SIMs, she said.

‘There are so many things. So many online teaching how to make bombs, how to kill people, how to do things or things like that, these need to be stopped. I think this should be given special attention internationally. Action needs to be taken against those who teach criminality, to show various social injustices, where everyone from children to teenagers,’ said the prime minister.

However, she said, they were quite vigilant about the Digital Security Act. ‘Even our country had a law earlier, when military dictators were in power that could arrest any journalist without any summon. After I took over charges, I stopped them and simplified them.’

‘So here, it is not the case that journalists are being harassed. Anyone here, if they do any anti-social activities or any provocative activities, any militant activities, generally action is taken against them,’ she added.