Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday directed the authorities concerned to pay more attention to digital security in every sector of the country. "In fact, as technology creates opportunities for us, it can also cause problems in many cases. From this aspect, we’ve to think afresh about our security matters," she said. The prime minister was addressing the 3rd meeting of "Digital Bangladesh Taskforce" at her official residence Ganobhaban here. She asked the authorities concerned to think about the (digital) security issue in all cases, starting from the money deposited in the bank. Hasina said the excellence of technology will continue to increase day by day. But every day new thoughts will come (to surface). “What I think applicable now will go further (need further revision). We’ll have to keep it in mind,” she added. Also read: PM rules out economic crisis in Bangladesh She stressed the need for putting more importance to research as the excellence of technology will continue to grow. “We’ve to conduct our research all the time. We should keep pace with the world. And Bangladesh will set an example for all to follow. That's what I want," she said. Noting that the people of Bangladesh have talent, she said "Why shall we remain dependent on others?....We can go a long way if we can create scope to flourish it." Talking about the brain drain, the PM said many people say that the country’s talents are going outside, but she doesn’t worry much about it as many of them finally return home after earning money. “Now Bangladesh is also an attractive place… We don't need to talk about old words – Brain drain-- anymore -.... We have no shortage of people,” she said, adding that Bangladesh has a large number of young people. The PM said the position of Bangladesh is better than others in many ways. “We’re in a much better position.” Also read: JS thanks PM for making 'Joy Bangla' the national slogan She said Digital Bangladesh has made many things easier here. Today, broadband internet reached over 4,000 unions and our own Satellite has been launched. None could think of it in the past, she added. Hasina stressed the need for developing the young generation as skilled manpower in order to take Bangladesh forward. “In order to take Bangladesh forward, we’ve to develop our young folks in a more suitable way by giving them proper education and training or building their mindset in the proper way,” she said.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday urged journalists and professionals to launch a strong movement against all ‘repressive laws’, including the Digital Security Act.   “The media in Bangladesh have taken a different character. If you look at the print and electric media, you will find them in a sorry state. One or two newspapers who used to write freely, don’t dare doing that now,” he said. The BNP leader also said the government has created a terrible situation with various ‘oppressive’ laws to suppress journalists and gag the media. “Let’s launch a movement to repeal all the repressive laws and the Digital Security Act.” Also read: Govt keeping media busy with ‘dramas to hide failures’: BNP He made the remarks at a discussion organised  by Ruhul Amin Gazi Mukti Parishad demanding the release of the journalist leader at Jatiya Press Club.     Police arrested Ruhul Amin Gazi, president of a faction of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), under the DSA on October 21 last year. Fakhrul suggested that journalists hold a convention in Dhaka demanding the release of Ruhul Amin Ghazi alongside intensifying the movement to have him freed. He bemoaned that a group of journalists and the media owners have been desperately flattering the government to get its shelter and blessings. “This is the current situation of the country. It hurts me.” The BNP leader said the government has taken a stance against people, independence and the constitution to turn the country into a truly failed state. “The current government has become a subservient and puppet one. So, people have now no freedom of speech and independence.” He also alleged that the government is snatching people’s freedom of speech by procuring telephone-hacking tools from Israel. Also read: Kamal demands abolition of DSA "One thing we have to keep in mind is that there’s no alternative to a mass upsurge uniting people to get rid of the current situation of the country. We don't have weapons and we also don’t believe in armed struggle. We want to achieve the victory together with people,” the BNP leader added. Fakhrul accused the government of politicising all state and democratic institutions. “Awami League is a party that never believed in democracy. This is the party that established the one-party Baksal rule in 1975 by banning all the parties and shutting down all the newspapers.” He also said the government has failed to deliver on all fronts as it is focusing only on ‘corruption and plundering’ public money. Speaking at the programme, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna urged BNP leaders and activists to continue a movement against the current regime. “It may not take a long time to ensure the fall of this regime,” he said.  He said the government’s weaknesses and its problems with police and administrations are getting exposed before people.  “Anger against the government has been prevailing everywhere. They (govt) are losing grounds beneath their feet. No one will be able to resist the fall of this regime.”

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Saturday alleged that the people’s constitutional right of freedom of speech has been threatened in the name of digital security in the country.   In a press release, TIB expressed deep concern over some recent incidents of arrests of writers, journalists and other professionals who criticised various irregularities.     TIB demanded unconditional release of the arrested people and urged the government to secure people’s constitutional right of freedom of speech.   Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of TIB, said that according to media reports, many cases were filed against journalist, teacher, writer, cartoonist, social activists and even health workers. Many were sacked and were arrested as they criticised some recent issues of irregularities.   “I want to insist the authorities concern… please respond to the criticism with your work and take the incidents of irregularities seriously to control them,” he said.   “Don’t walk on the path of autocracy by controlling and restricting the different opinions,” he said.   Referring to the recent incident of missing journalist Shafiqul Islam who was sued for illegal trespassing, Iftekharuzzaman said such incidents go against the announcement of ‘Zero Tolerance’ against corruption by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.   Quoting media reports, TIB disclosed that 180 journalists were sued from the beginning of 2018 to June 2019.   After coronavirus outbreak, 67 cases were filed under the Digital Security Act. Among them, 37 were filed against journalists, the organisation said.   Besides, on charge of spreading rumours on social media, 88 people including cartoonist and journalists were arrested.   TIB believes that such arrests and repression violate the rule of law, the release said.