STAFF CORRESPONDENT

ARTICLE 19, an international human rights organisation, yesterday demanded that the government act on its commitment to amend the flawed Digital Security Act.

As many as 23 journalists were prosecuted in 10 cases filed under the DSA this year, it said in a statement. Of them, three were imprisoned.

Admitting the fact that the law has been misused and abused, several responsible ministers in the recent past have promised to reform the law with an assurance not to arrest journalists immediately sued under the law, said the London-headquartered campaign group.

“However, the reality is different; cases and arrests under this law are rampant,” the statement said quoting Faruq Faisel, regional director for ARTICLE 19 South Asia.

ARTICLE 19 also demanded that the real culprits behind the murder of three media workers in the past three months be brought to justice following a proper investigation.

The media workers are: Abdul Bari, a senior production executive of the private television channel DBC News; Abu Jafar Pradeep, a correspondent of local daily Sorejomin Barta; and Mohiuddin Sarkar Naeem, a journalist based in Cumilla.

The murders formed a broader trend of violence against journalists in the country.