The Right to Information Act will not be abolished, but it will be revised soon along with the Cybersecurity Act, said Law Adviser Professor Asif Nazrul, L
"Laws cannot be completely discarded. We will omit speech offences, but we cannot overlook computer-related offences. For instance, if someone's reputation is damaged due to a computer hacking incident, this cannot be ignored," he said during a discussion on the occasion of International Right to Information Day held in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Sunday (29 September).
Asif Nazrul further elaborated that the government plans to reform the Cybersecurity Law along with other anti-people legislation.
He noted that past autocratic governments had introduced laws against the people's interests, and these will now be addressed.
Criticising the previous Awami government, Professor Asif Nazrul compared it with the regime of former dictator Ershad, stating: "During Ershad's nine-year rule, 31 people were killed, which we do not support. However, the autocratic Hasina government has taken the lives of 1,000 people in just two weeks."
Asif Nazrul pointed out that in the past, people were abducted and murdered, with no access to information.
"The right to information is fundamental, and everyone must have it," he stressed.
He further added, "I am currently part of the government and will continue to work with you. We must unite as challenging times may lie ahead, and for that, unity is essential."
The discussion was also addressed by Badiul Alam Majumder, head of the Election System Reform Commission, Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), Shaheen Anam, convener of the Right to Information Forum, Md Anwar Hossain, director of the NGO Affairs Bureau, Md Mahmudul Hossain Khan, secretary of the Cabinet Division (Coordination and Reform), and Shish Haider Chowdhury, secretary of the Information and Technology Division.
The session was moderated by Dr Ananya Raihan, chief executive officer of iSocial.
