The Shampadak Parishad has expressed deep concern over the inclusion of controversial Section-57 of the ICT Act and some stricter provisions in the draft of the Digital Security Act 2018.

Terming the draft law a harsher one, the Parishad, an organisation of editors of the country's national dailies, has demanded that the government drop all controversial sections from the draft act.

It has also suggested finalising the draft following discussions among all stakeholders.

“The nature of crime and the provisions of punishment mentioned in Section-32 of the proposed Digital Security Act for digital spying will hurt the freedom of speech and the fundamental spirit of democracy,” it said in a press statement yesterday.

The statement was issued after a meeting of the Parishad with its President and Samakal Editor Golam Sarwar in the chair at The Daily Star Centre in the capital.

The meeting was attended by The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam; Chief Editor of Manabzamin Matiur Rahman Chowdhury; News Today Editor Reazuddin Ahmed; The Financial Express Editor AHM Moazzem Hossain; Acting Editor of Sangbad Khandaker Muniruzzaman; New Age Editor Nurul Kabir; Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta; Bangladesh Pratidin Editor Nayeem Nizam; Naya Diganta Editor Alamgir Mohiuddin; Acting Editor of Jugantor Saiful Alam; Banik Barta Editor Dewan Hanif Mahmud; The Independent Editor M Shamsur Rahman; Daily Azadi Editor MA Malek; Daily Inquilab Editor AMM Bahauddin; Korotoa Editor Md Mozammel Haq; Dhaka Tribune Editor Zafar Sobhan; and Daily Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman.