Digital Security Act
DSA case against journalist Kajol shifted to Cyber Tribunal
A case filed against photojournalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol under the Digital Security Act (DSA) at Kamrangirchar Police Station was transferred to Dhaka Cyber Tribunal on Sunday.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Debdash Chandra Adhikari passed the order as Kajol stood in the dock. The court took the charges into cognisance and shifted it to the Cyber Tribunal for trial.
Investigation Officer Md Rassel Mollah submitted the chargesheet on March 14.
Also read: Digital Security Act: Charges pressed against Kajol
Jubo Mohila League central leader Sumaiya Chowdhury Bonnya filed the case on March 11 last year accusing Kajol of writing defamatory remarks about various MPs on his Facebook profile.
He was freed from the Dhaka Central Jail on December 25 last year.
On December 17, the High Court granted him bail in two cases filed under the DSA, clearing the way for his release.
Also read: Journalist Kajol freed from jail
On November 24 that year, the journalist secured bail in another case filed against him under the DSA.
The journalist had gone missing on March 10, 2020, a day after Magura-1 MP Saifuzzaman Shikhor filed a case against him and 30 others, including Manab Zamin Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury.
They were sued under the Digital Security Act for publishing and sharing an article on social media about expelled Jubo Mohila League leader Shamima Noor Papia.
Also, two other cases were filed against Kajol at Kamrangir Char and Hazaribagh police stations under DSA on March 10 and March 11.
On May 3, Kajol was shown detained by Border Guard Bangladesh along the Benapole border after 53-day of his disappearance. He was produced before a Jashore court which sent him to jail.
Also read: Why journalist Kajol should not be granted bail, HC asks
Tribunal orders CID to probe DSA case filed by Samia Rahman
A Cyber Crimes Tribunal of Dhaka has directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police to investigate a case filed under Digital Security Act by Dhaka University teacher Samia Rahman today.
The tribunal of Judge Mohammad Ash Sams Joglul Hossain passed the order.
The bench assistant of the tribunal Shamim Al Mamun, confirmed the matter to UNB.
CID must submit a probe report before it by May 20, according to the order.
Also read: I’m victim of dirty teachers’ politics: Samia Rahman
Samia Rahman, a teacher of Mass Communication and Journalism Department at Dhaka University (DU), had filed a case against a foreign national- Alex Martin- for bringing allegation of plagiarism against her on Wednesday.
She alleged that the accused brought the fake allegation of plagiarism against her through using fake e-mail ID.
Samia said that the accused committed offence under the Digital Security Act through spreading false and fabricated information intentionally.
Earlier on January 28, DU demoted 3 of its teachers including Samia Rahman on grounds of plagiarism.
Also read: DU demotes 3 teachers for plagiarism
On March 1, Samia alleged that she had been a victim of dirty teachers’ politics through a press briefing.
She also claimed that when she contacted Editor of Chicago Journal Craig Walker, he informed her that there is no one at the journal by the name Alex Martin.
ERF condemns private company's 'threat' against journalist
The Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) on Wednesday strongly condemned the reported threat by LR Global Asset Management Company to file a lawsuit against its member, journalist Niaz Mahmud, under the controversial Digital Security Act.
"We think the threat is an assault against freedom of expression," the ERF said in a release.
The release also said that the ERF believes every aggrieved person, firm, group or organization has the right to defend itself from an unlawful reporting or smear campaign.
"But we strongly protest any move to use the Digital Security Act to target a journalist."
In this connection, it mentioned that country's civil society, rights groups, journalist groups and the Editors Council have strong reservations about the DSA and have repeatedly demanded amendments to some of the key clauses of the laws.
It also said that International rights groups such as the Amnesty International and the Human Rights Watch and the Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ) have highlighted how the DSA has been used since its enactment in 2018 to muzzle dissent and even rightful reporting practices.
ERF in its release stated that Some rights groups even demanded repeal of the law, saying it was being used to target truth-seeking journalists.
It hoped LR Global Asset Management Company Limited will reconsider its stand and act as a responsible and morally upright business organization.
"The ERF stands against any move to silence lawful journalism by any member of the media."
Digital Security Act: Charges pressed against Kajol
A Dhaka court on Wednesday took the charges into cognisance in a case filed against photojournalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol under the Digital Security Act (DSA) with Hazaribagh Police Station.
Cyber Tribunal Judge Mohammad Jaglul Hossain took the charges into cognisance and fixed April 22 for framing the charges.
The chargesheet was submitted at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court on February 4, said Kajol’s lawyer Jahidur Rahman.
Usmi Ara Beli, Jubo Mohila League central member filed the case on March 10, 2020.
Earlier on December 25, last year Kajol was freed from Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj.
Also read: Journalist Kajol freed from jail
On December 17, the High Court granted bail to Kajol in two cases filed under the Digital Security Act, clearing the way for his release.
On November 24, last year, the journalist secured bail in another case filed against him under the same act.
The journalist had gone missing on March 10, 2020, a day after Magura 1 MP Saifuzzaman Shikhor filed a case against him and 30 others, including Manabzamin Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury.
They were sued under the Digital Security Act over publishing and sharing of an article on social media about expelled Jubo Mohila League leader Shamima Noor Papia.
Also read: Digital Security Act: Charges pressed against Kajol
Also, two other cases were filed against Kajol with Kamrangir Char and Hazaribagh police stations under the same act on March 10 and March 11.
On May 3, Kajol had been shown as detained by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) along the Benapole border after 53-days of his disappearance and was produced before a Jashore court, which sent him to jail.
The journalist remained in jail since then.
Protesting DSA: Police bar students from marching towards Law Ministry
Police on Tuesday obstructed leaders and activists of some left-leaning organizations near the secretariat while they were marching towards the Law Ministry to stage protests over writer Mustaq's death in custody and abolition of the Digital Security Act.
Court asks PBI to investigate case over cartoonist Kishore’s torture in custody
A Dhaka court on Sunday accepted a case filed by cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore over alleged torture on him in custody after his arrest under the Digital Security Act (DSA).
Khaleda's proper treatment getting harder: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday said ensuring proper treatment of ‘seriously’ ill Khaleda Zia is gradually getting harder in Bangladesh as her health condition turned critical.
Govt trying to prolong power using DSA: BNP
– BNP on Thursday alleged that the government is using a ‘dangerous’ law like Digital Security Act to repress people and ‘snatch’ their freedom of expression in a bid to cling to power.
BNP demands reconstitution of EC
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday demanded the constitution of a new election commission with “competent persons”, saying that the present commission is “worse even than an obedient salve”.
Cartoonist Kishore files complaint “over torture in custody”
Cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore on Wednesday filed a complaint with a Dhaka court over alleged torture on him in custody after his arrest under the Digital Security Act (DSA).