Bangladesh
Law Minister Digital to cyber: US watchdog wants to know difference between changed laws
Dhaka, Oct 12: The government made the cyber security law by changing the digital security law. The US monitoring group has asked Law Minister Anisul Haq about any change in this law.
The minister told reporters after a meeting with the US observation team at the secretariat on Wednesday.
He said, "The delegation has talked about the Cyber Security Act to be replaced by the Digital Security Act. Free, fair and impartial elections were also discussed. I told them that Sheikh Hasina's government is committed to the people of Bangladesh to conduct free, fair and peaceful elections. Elections will be free, fair and peaceful. In order to maintain the independence of the Election Commission to conduct free, fair and peaceful elections, this government has enacted a law to appoint a Chief Election Commissioner and an Election Commissioner which has not existed in this subcontinent for 50 years."
He said, "The Election Commission wanted some changes in the law to make the elections free and fair. That change has been made. I have said that immediately after the announcement of the election schedule, the offices, courts and departments related to the election will come under the control of the Election Commission. If you see these three things, you can understand that Sheikh Hasina's government wants Bangladesh to hold free, fair and peaceful elections."
The law minister added, "Their (US delegation) main point was that where is the difference between the Digital Security Act and the Cyber Security Act? I made that difference very clear to them. They did not give me any advice about the election, they wanted to know. Asked about Cyber Security Act, Judiciary. I have outlined the entire history of the Judiciary. They wanted to know about the case, that's why we told them what we did."
When asked whether they said anything about the dialogue, Anisul Haq said, "They did not want to know whether there will be a dialogue or not." He asked if there was any fear that no one would come to the polls. I have said that Sheikh Hasina's government wants all parties to come to the elections. But who will come to the election, who will not come to the election - that is the party's decision."
