The Digital Security Act faces an unprecedented protest and criticism.

"Journalists who do not publish false news need not worry about the Digital Security Bill."

President Abdul Hamid yesterday signed the Digital Security Bill into law amid widespread criticism that it curbs freedom of speech and expression and media freedom guaranteed by the constitution. President's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin confirmed this to The Daily Star yesterday afternoon.

Journalists will have to go through difficult times as the Digital Security Bill has turned into a law without addressing our grave concerns.

The much-debated Digital Security Bill 2018 was sent to the office of President Abdul Hamid yesterday for his assent, said sources at the Parliament Secretariat and the Bangabhaban.

All eyes are now on President Abdul Hamid as he will decide on the much debated Digital Security Bill. Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury yesterday signed the Bill recently passed by parliament amid widespread criticism against some of its provisions that have been termed as a threat to freedom of speech and expression and the freedom of press as well.

A group of teachers and scholars of journalism and media studies call upon the government to reconsider the “draconian” Digital Security Act.

BNP will scrap Digital Security Act within a week if the party is voted to power, its Standing Committee member Moudud Ahmed says.

Responding to the newly passed Digital Security Act-2018 in Bangladesh which has drawn serious concern over press freedom and the right to freedom of expression, European diplomats in Dhaka have said the law will suppress and criminalise legitimate media freedoms.

Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday demanded that the government revoke the recently-passed Digital Security Act.

The Committee to Protect Journalists in a letter to the Bangladesh president expressed deep concern over the Digital Security Act passed on Tuesday by parliament, and urged him to return it for a review.

The parliamentary standing committee on post telecom and ICT has placed its final report on the much-debated Digital Security Bill -2018 before the House unilaterally where recommendations of the journalist community were not reflected appropriately.

Journalists need not worry about the passing of the Digital Security Bill as it would not gag them, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in parliament yesterday.

Branding the Digital Security Act as an 'evil spirit of Baksal', BNP yesterday alleged that the government has enacted the law to hide its 'massive corruption' and gag the media and people's voice.

This law will hurt the media, democracy and freedom of expression. Citizens and the media will be victimised. Fundamental rights will be curtailed.

A parliamentary body yesterday submitted its report on the much-debated Digital Security Bill, ignoring concerns of journalists and media owners over some of its sections.

Posts, Telecommunications and IT Minister Mustafa Jabbar yesterday said section 57 of the ICT Act would no longer be there after the passing of the Digital Security Bill by parliament.

A parliamentary body yesterday finalised its report on the much-debated Digital Security Bill without addressing some concerns of journalists and media owners.

Stressing the need for a law amid growing concerns over the country's rapidly flourishing information technology sector, journalists, authors and rights activists yesterday said that if the proposed digital security bill was passed with its current content, it will severely curtail freedom of the press and expression.

Parliament yesterday gave two more months for further scrutiny of the Digital Security Bill-2018.