Politicians and journalists top the list of accused in the cases filed under the Digital Security Act 2018.
Centre for Governance Studies, a non-government think-tank, came up with the finding after tracking details of 668 cases filed against 1,516 people from January 1, 2020 to September 7, 2021, said a release issued by CGS on Thursday.
The CGS said that their study on the DSA cases revealed that charges were brought against 194 politicians, 142 journalists, 67 students and 35 teachers.
The CGS found that over 1,500 cases were filed under the DSA between January 1, 2020 and September 15, 2021.
The CGS issued the statement to mark three years of the draconian law which came into effect on October 1, 2018.
‘It reveals how the law has become a tool of emergent authoritarianism. It is nothing short of a fiasco aimed at criminalising dissent,’ said professor Ali Riaz, principal investigator of the project that gathered data and details of the DSA cases during the period.
He further said, ‘The wanton use of the law has created a culture of fear in Bangladesh.’
The release stated that both law enforcement agencies and ruling party activists have been using the draconian law against dissenting voices.
News Courtesy:
https://www.newagebd.net/article/150616/1500-dsa-cases-filed-in-18-months-cgs-study