2024-10-02 09:07:21
Adviser on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs commented that cyber security law should not be completely abolished. Asif Nazrul
He made this comment in his speech as the chief guest at an exchange meeting titled ‘Right to Information: Supporting Role of NGOs in Establishing Transparency and Accountable Good Governance’ organized by the Information Rights Forum and Foundation for People at the office of NGO Affairs Bureau in Agargaon in the capital on Sunday (September 29).
Asif Nazrul said that the Cyber Security Act should not be completely repealed while mentioning that the Right to Information Act was passed during the previous government’s tenure and there was also a law to destroy the right to information. Because it is mainly designed to prevent two types of crime. One of these is ‘Computer Offence’ (committing crime using computer) and the other is ‘Speech Offence’. While it is possible to abolish ‘speech offence’, it will not be right to abolish ‘computer offence’. He also said that efforts will be taken to amend or reform the cyber security law soon.
Asif Nazrul said, we lack awareness about information rights. This right is not like other rights. All rights are worthless except the right to information. This right is attached to every right. So a movement should be built on the right to information.
He said that if the state’s law, justice and governance departments are not in order, then the Information Commission or the Human Rights Commission will not have any performance. Those who talk about right to information should talk about fair elections, also against disappearances and extrajudicial killings. We have to talk about the independence of the judiciary. People know how the previous government made the Judiciary an instrument of torture, parliament a forum of looting and injustice. We should be vocal about these things.
“At one time we could not mention the name of the Prime Minister. We were told that everything can be said and the name of the Prime Minister cannot be mentioned… it had to be mentioned like this. She (Sheikh Hasina) has become a tyrannical monster. But did we protest? I didn’t When we protested we didn’t get more than 10-12 people. So, these things should not be forgotten. Protesting is the most important thing in times of bad governance. The protest must always be maintained. Even, we have to protest if there is any mistake’, said the legal advisor.
Director General of NGO Affairs Bureau. Under the chairmanship of Saidur Rahman, the Secretary of the Cabinet Division (Coordination and Reforms) also spoke at the meeting. Mahmudul Hossain Khan, Information and Communication Technology Department Secretary Sheesh Haider Chowdhury, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Suzon’s editor Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, former ambassador Humayun Kabir, Director of NGO Affairs Bureau. Anwar Hossain, MRDI Executive Director Hasibur Rahman etc.
Shaheen Anam, convenor of Information Rights Forum presented the main article in the program and the program was moderated by Dr. Unique Raihan.