HC issues rule asking for steps against IT abuse

The High Court (HC) on Thursday asked the government to explain as to why it should not be directed to take effective steps to stop the abuse of information technology (IT) as spreading of pornographic materials through websites, cell-phones, VCDs, CDs and print magazines has become rampant. Issuing the rule upon a public interest litigation (PIL) writ petition, an HC division bench headed by Justice M Bazlur Rahman also asked the government to show cause as to why direction should not be given to formulate a law for checking the abuse of IT and protect the privacy of citizens. Both the rules have been made returnable in four weeks. In the wake of increasing sexual offences, Salma Ali, executive director of Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association (BNWLA), filed the PIL petition. Moving the petition, advocate Fawzia Karim Firoz told the court that the abuse of IT has become so outrageous that it started affecting everyday life. Hidden cameras are being found in women residential halls of reputed universities, which made the lives of women and children more vulnerable, she submitted.