Law Minister Anisul Huq on Thursday said that there is no scope for canceling the cases filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA).
The law minister came up with the statement while replying to a tabled question from Gonoforum MP Mukabbir Khan.
Repealing the much controversial DSA, the Cyber Security Bill was passed in Parliament on Wednesday.
Read: Cyber Security Bill 2023 lands in JS to replace DSA
The proposed law will come into effect following gazette notification and after the signature of the President. According to the Cyber Security Bill, the cases under DSA will continue.
Mukabbir Khan asked to know if the people who have faced various forms of harassment and jail sentence due to misuse of the repealed DSA, or they who are still in prison, will they get compensation?
At the same time, the Gonoforum MP wanted to know how these issues will be resolved.
In response, the law minister said that there is no scope for quashing the cases filed under the Digital Security Act and there is no question of giving compensation in this regard.
Explaining the issue, the law minister said that the position of the law is that the crimes committed under the old law, the punishment will be given under the old law and the court will award the punishment to the criminal.
Read: Int'l groups urge Bangladesh govt to drop DSA cases against journalists
The law minister further said that Article 35 of the Constitution says: “No person shall be convicted of any offence except for violation of a law in force at the time of the commission of the act charged as an offence, nor be subjected to a penalty greater than, or different from, that which might have been inflicted under the law in force at the time of the commission of the offence.”
The minister also said that if the complaint filed under the Digital Security Act and other related proceedings or any proceedings instituted or any suit or appeal filed is pending at any stage, the said proceedings or appeal shall continue as if it had been instituted or filed under the Cyber Security Act.
Read more: Cabinet approves Cyber Security Act to replace controversial DSA