Journalists and human rights activists in Rajshahi city on Thursday urged the government not to enact the recent amendment of the ICT law.
They are afraid the law could easily be misused.
They remarked this during a roundtable meeting on ICT act organised by Nagarik Odhikar, a civic body, at Hotel Wasin in Rajshahi city in the afternoon.
Speakers at the programme said that the law enforcers will be able to arrest any person without any warrant for publishing any material in electronic form that causes deterioration of law and order, harm the image of the state or person or hurt religious belief, according to the ICT (Amendment) Act 2013.
The offender of the non-bail able crime will be punished for a maximum of 14 years in jail and seven years at the minimum, as per the law, they added.
It is surprising that the current parliament approved the Right to Information Act in its first session, while the same government is amending the ICT law, which conflicts with the constitution, said the senior journalists.
‘The government will hold people as hostage by the ICT law in the name of fighting criminals,’ they said by pointing towards the abuse of the law.
People should protest such amendment, as anyone could become a victim of the law, they added.
BNP joint secretary Mizanur Rahman Minu, Rajshahi University Teachers Association president Azhar Uddin, Journalist Sarder M Anisur Rahman addressed the programme among others.
-With New Age input
