DSA
CTTC files DSA case against Pinaki Bhattacharya for ‘tarnishing image of the state’
Pinaki Bhattacharya and two others have been sued under the Digital Security Act (DSA) for “tarnishing the image of the state through conspiracy”.
The other two accused are Mofizur Rahman and Mushfiqul Fazal Ansary. Mofizur is now behind bars and Mushfiqul is on the run.
Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) filed the case against them at Ramna Police Station on November 15.
Deputy Commissioner of DMP's media wing Md Faruque Hossain said: "Pinaki Bhattacharya is spreading propaganda against the country and the state from France."
"We are trying to find his address. If his details can be found, we will seek Interpol's assistance to bring him back to Bangladesh for trial."
According to the case statement, CTTC noticed a Facebook post by Pinaki on October 14 through which "misinformation about police was spread on social media."
On October 15, police arrested Mofizur from his Pallabi residence over the Facebook post and seized his phones.
Police said, through his fake Facebook account, Mofizur contacted different people, including Pinaki and Mushfiqul. "Distorted information and a picture of a police raid in Dhaka's Mirpur were sent to Pinaki, Fazal, and others living abroad."
Read more: BNP women’s front leader sent to remand in case under DSA
Later, Mofizur was interrogated by CTTC on a two-day remand.
Police said: "We have found that Pinaki responded after Mofizur sent the message to him, so charges were brought against him."
Pinkai, who often posts on social media and appears on YouTube, criticizing the government and the ruling party, has been staying abroad for several years.
Read more: Tiktoker held under DSA for making ‘derogatory remarks’ on PM, police
BNP women’s front leader sent to remand in case under DSA
A Dhaka court on Sunday put the general secretary of Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal, Sultana Ahmed, on remand for two days in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA), on charges of making derogatory remarks about the prime minister.
Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal is the women’s front of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Shahidul Islam passed the order as the investigating officer and sub-inspector (SI) of Paltan police station Ashraful Alam produced her before the court with a seven-day remand prayer.
Also read: Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal leader held in city
Meanwhile, counsel for the accused Masud Ahmed Talukdar submitted a petition seeking her bail after canceling the remand order.
Earlier in the day, Abdul Hamid, the former president of Gopalganj District Chhatra League, lodged the complaint at Paltan police station against Sultana Ahmed.
Later, the members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested Sultana from her residence in the city’s Gulshan this morning.
29 organisations listed as ‘critical information infrastructure’ under DSA
The ICT Division on Monday declared 29 organisations as ‘critical information infrastructure’ under the Digital Security Act for the safety of sensitive data under which any illegal access to computers, digital devices or networks is a punishable offence.
‘Critical information infrastructure’ in the controversial Act means any external or virtual information infrastructure declared by the government that controls, processes, circulates or preserves any information-data or electronic information and, if damaged or critically affected, may adversely affect public safety or financial security or public health and national security or national integrity or sovereignty.
Section 15 of the Digital Security Act authorizes the government to declare any computer system, network or information infrastructure as ‘critical information infrastructure”.
The law states anyone causing or trying to cause damage to a critical information structure or render it inactive intentionally through illegal access will be doing an offence.
It defines illegal access as “making or abetting to make illegal access to any computer, computer system or computer network” and “making or abetting to make illegal access with intent to commit an offence”.
Such an offence will be punished with imprisonment for a maximum term of seven years, or a fine not exceeding Tk 2.5 million, or both.
Accessing the systems illegally with the intent of harming it will carry a prison term for a maximum of 14 years, or a fine not exceeding Tk 10 million, or both.
A second or further attempt to breach the system illegally will be met with imprisonment for life, or fine not exceeding Tk 50 million, or both.
Journalists’ groups, human rights organisations including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have criticised the Digital Security Act and said it would stifle freedom of expression, but the government says it is needed to protect people’s privacy and sensitive data that matters to the country.
In a notice issued by the ICT Division on Monday listed the following organisations under the ‘critical information infrastructure’.
President’s office
Prime Minister's Office
National Board of Revenue
Bangladesh Data Center Company Ltd
Bridges Division
Department of Immigration and Passports
National Data Center of Bangladesh Computer Council
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission
National Identity Registration Wing of Election Commission Secretariat
Central Procurement Technical Unit
Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Establishment Project
Biman Bangladesh Airlines
Immigration Police
Bangladesh Telecommunication Company Ltd
Bangladesh Water Development Board
Power Grid Company of Bangladesh
Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd
Bangabandhu Satellite Company Ltd
Civil Aviation Authority Bangladesh
Birth and Death Registration unit of the Office of the Registrar General
Bangladesh Bank
Sonali Bank
Agrani Bank
Janata Bank
Rupali Bank
Central Depository Bangladesh Ltd
Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission
Dhaka Stock Exchange
Chattogram Stock Exchange
Case filed against 2 for derogatory FB posts on mayor Taposh
A case has been filed against two Facebook users under the Digital Security Act (DSA) for allegedly spreading misinformation about Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Nur Taposh regarding the clashes at Dhaka's New Market.
Monirul Islam, personal assistant of Mayor Taposh filed the case with Shahbagh police on Thursday.
Read: Info minister considers legal action against TIB for lies
Earlier on April 18 at midnight and the following, students of Dhaka College clashed with New Market traders in New Market areas, leaving a delivery man and a trader dead and dozens, including journalists, injured.
More than 1,300 people have been booked in connection with the clashes.
US envoy discusses DSA with law minister
Bangladesh and the United States on Sunday discussed updating the Digital Security Act (DSA) so that it prevents cybercrime without curtailing the freedom of speech or independence of the press.US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas met Law Minister Anisul Huq to discuss areas of mutual cooperation and the importance of ensuring freedom of expression.
Also read: UK envoy lauds climate expert Dr. Saleemul Huq
HC grants anticipatory bail to Prof Karzon in DSA case
The High Court on Thursday granted anticipatory bail to Dhaka University professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman Karzon for eight weeks in a case filed under the Digital Security Act.
A division bench of justices Jahangir Hossain Selim and Md Atoar Rahman passed the order while hearing his bail plea during a virtual hearing and also asked the law professor to surrender before the tribunal hearing the case by this period.
Barrister Omar Farooq appeared for the professor in the court while Deputy Attorney General Sarwar Hossain Bappi represented the state.
Also read: Remove Riaz's father-in-law's 'suicide' video from social media: HC
On July 22 last year, Prof Karzon wrote a post on Facebook that stoked a major controversy, forcing him to subsequently remove the same. He had also apologised for "hurting the religious sentiments of people".
However, on August 1, Amit Bhowmik, the general secretary of the central committee of the Bangladesh Hindu Juba Parishad, filed a case against Prof Karzon under the Digital Security Act alleging that his post had hurt the religious sentiments of people.
Also read:Court accept charges against 'Shishu Bokta' Rafiqul in DSA case
BNP appreciates govt move to amend DSA
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday appreciated the government’s move to amend the Digital Security Act (DSA) saying the government has finally come to senses.
“I read in the newspaper that the Law Minister said there have been excesses in the Digital Security Act. After so many days, they (govt) have come to senses,” he said.
Speaking at a civic condolence meeting, he said BNP has long been repeatedly raising its voice against the DSA while the journalists have been on a movement against it.
He said the DSA has been harming the press freedom and creating a scope for repressing journalists alongside dashing the nation’s dreams of having a democratic system.
On December 30 last, Law Minister Anisul Huq said the government will amend the DSA if there is any discontent as the law has been abused and misused in some cases.
Read: Get ready for movement with shrouds on heads: BNP to followers
A faction of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club in memory of veteran journalist Reazuddin Ahmed who died of Covid-19 on December 25 last.
Fakhrul said the nation is passing through a very bad time and it has now become very difficult to protect one’s existence.
“Our chairperson Khaleda Zia is not even getting a scope for receiving treatment (abroad). It’s perhaps a normal matter in the current state or governing system created by Awami League,” he said.
The BNP leader, however, said they are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel as people are waking up against the government.
Read: BNP not to join talks on EC formation
He said they have been reaching out to people in different districts by holding rallies demanding Khaleda’s treatment abroad for a few days. “We’re observing that people are waking up through our programmes and mass contacts, generating hope among us.”
Fakhrul said people will surely be able to remove the current ‘monstrous’ government from power if they can strongly take to the streets and the journalists can write against it bravely.
He said the Awami League government has destroyed the soul of Bangladesh. “We must restore it…we’re extremely optimistic that we’ll be able to free Khaleda Zia and bring her back to the people by ensuring her proper treatment.”
Recalling late journalist Reazuddin Ahmed’s contributions to the country, he said he had played a role in people’s movements against autocrats. “He had made a great contribution at every crisis moment of the nation with courage.
Case filed against Murad Hasan under DSA
A former student of Dhaka University (DU) has lodged a complaint against the former State Minister for Information Murad Hasan at Shahbagh Police Station under the Digital Security Act (DSA).
Julius Caesar Talukder, former general secretary (GS) of DU’s Salimullah Muslim Hall filed the case.
He said in the complaint that a video clip of Murad Hasan on social media contained perverted sexual and hate speech.
READ: President signs resignation letter of Murad Hasan
The case statement also said that in the video, Dr Murad had clearly insulted Dhaka University. Through this, he has deliberately neglected the oldest and traditional school of the country. He also tried to harass the female students of the traditional Ruqayyah Hall and Shamsun Nahar Hall of the university.
Julius Caesar Talukder said that Murad Hasan’s speech showed opposition to women's participation in politics and social activities. "We think any institution is a holy place. And it is the responsibility of all citizens to maintain a boundary when it comes to commenting on the character of another citizen," he stated.
Officer-in-charge (OC) of Shahbagh Police Station Maudut Hawlader told UNB, "We have already received a written complaint."
READ: Now Murad loses Jamalpur district AL post
As the complaint falls under the DSA, the complaint will be transferred to the Cyber Crime Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police. Action will be taken as per their instructions, he said
DSA case: Rajshahi Katakhali mayor put on 3-day remand
A Rajshahi court on Monday placed the mayor of Rajshahi's Katakhali Municipality Abbas Ali on a three-day remand in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA).
Judge of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Magistrate Court-2 Shankar Kumar passed the order when sub-inspector Shahabul Islam, also the investigating officer of the case, produced him before the court with a 10-day remand prayer.
READ: Child dies hit by bus in Rajshahi
The court also rejected the bail petition of Abbas.
Advocate Pervez Toufik Zihadi stood for the mayor while Advocate Aslam Sarkar, Mozaffar Hossain and Musabbirul Islam represented the petitioner.
On December 1, Abbas Ali, was detained by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from a hotel in Dhaka.
The detention comes days after he was booked under the Digital Security Act (DSA) over his alleged derogatory remarks on Bangabandhu and announcement to stop the construction of a mural of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahmna in the city.
A RAB team conducted a drive at Razmoni Ishakha hotel in Dhaka and detained Abbas.
Mayor Abbas, in his second term as mayor, came under fire after an audio clip of his remarks on Bangabandhu went viral on social media recently.
READ: Rangpur & Rajshahi may see drizzle in next 24 hours
"The Katakhali city gate will be built soon but the private contractor has submitted a design of Bangabandhu's mural to be installed at the gate," Abbas was heard as saying in the clip.
"It will be a sin if I allow construction of Bangabandhu's mural... it is not right as per the Islamic Shariah laws."
Abdul Momin, councillor of ward no 13 of Katakhali Municipality, lodged a complaint against Abbas under the Digital Security Act (DSA) at the Boalia police station, following which an FIR (first information report) was filed on that day.
Police arrested Liton, the personal assistant of Abbas, and following his confessional statement, cops came to know about the whereabouts of Abbas.
Cyber tribunal orders probe against suspended Gazipur mayor under DSA
A cyber tribunal on Monday asked CID police to investigate allegations that recently-suspended mayor of Gazipur Jahangir Alam made derogatory remarks about Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Bangladesh liberation war.
Dhaka Cybder Tribunal Judge Ash-Shams Jaglul Hussein gave CID until January 6 to submit its probe report after Supreme Court lawyer Omar Faruk Asif filed a complaint against Jahangir under Digital Security Act.
This was confirmed by public prosecutor Nazrul Islam Shamim.
Also read: Embattled Gazipur City Mayor Jahangir suspended
Jahangir has already lost his mayoral office besides axed as general secretary of Gazipur city unit of Awami League and expelled from the party for life.
The AL central committee came hard on him after video clips in which he made the controversial comments went viral on social media.
On November 23, another case under DSA was filed against Jahangir in Rajbari.
Also on Sunday, a defamation case was also filed against him with Gazipur Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court.
Also read: Decision on legal steps against GCC mayor to be known soon: Tajul
Atiqur Rahman, chairman of International Language Movement council filed the Tk 100-crore case against Jahangir saying that his derogatory remarks have undermined Bangabandhu’s image and the honour of Bangladesh and Bengali nation.