Govt to ensure no excesses over DSA

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said there may have been some excesses while enforcing the Digital Security Act, but the government is now very careful to make sure the law is not misused.

He made the comments at a panel discussion organised by the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies on Tuesday, marking 50 years of the US-Bangladesh diplomatic ties.

Isobel Coleman, USAID deputy administrator for Policy and Programming, was a co-panelist.

Momen is now visiting the US, where he held bilateral meetings with his US counterpart Antony Blinken and USAID Administrator Samantha Power. He also took part in discussions organised by Washington-based think tanks.

At Tuesday's discussion, he said people in Bangladesh have been using social media freely, but sometimes some of them spread hatred and seek to incite violence, for which the DSA was framed.

"You cannot put up anything that incites violence… Some individuals spread rumours. However, there are concerns that there may have been some excesses and we agree.

"Our law ministry has taken a strong position in this regard."

He said the Bangladesh media is completely free.

Isobel said the space for democracy in the civil society is a critically important issue and USAID has shared its concerns in this regard.

She said the USAID has increased its programmes in the democracy portfolio to ensure freedom of media and civil society.

"We want to make sure Bangladesh remains on a strong trajectory," Isobel said, acknowledging the country's progress over the last 50 years.

Momen said Bangladesh now faces the major challenges of climate change and that the US could take a leadership role in mobilising the yearly $100 billion fund under the Paris Agreement.

He expressed satisfaction that USAID agreed to provide technical assistance for strong coastal embankments.

On Tuesday, Momen met Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the Majority Leader of the US Senate, and Congressman Steve Chabot (R-OH), member of House Foreign Affairs Committee.

He also attended a meeting with the US Chamber of Commerce's US-Bangladesh Business Council.

During the meetings, he requested the withdrawal of the Rab sanctions, deportation of Bangabandhu's convicted killer Rashed Chowdhury, and investment in Bangladesh.