New law to tackle blog-related crimes

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq said on Tuesday a new law will be enacted to tackle the crimes carried out through blogging, reports BSS.
He also said the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act of 2006 will be amended and modernised.
The minister was speaking at a discussion on 'Implications for Freedom of Online Expression' at a city hotel. London-based rights group 'Article 19' organised the discussion.
"Many crimes are being carried out through blogging. New law will be enacted to tackle digital crimes. Bloggers are free to express their views, they will write about it without any fear. The government will take stern actions against the people, plotting to harm or kill the bloggers. Killers of bloggers will surely be brought to justice," Anisul, also an eminent lawyer, said.
"We have to keep pace with the global situation. There is a need of modification and amendment of ICT Act-2006. Steps are being taken in this regard considering the time and the situation," he added.
State Minister for Post, Telecommunications & Information Technology, Zunaid Ahmed Palak said, "In 2008, the total number of internet users in the country was around a million. But now the number is more than 40 millions. International online act should be imposed upon the people, involved in works online."
Thomas Hughes, executive director of Article 19, placed the main article at the function, while its director for South Asia region Tahmina Rahman conducted it.
ICT expert Mostafa Zabbar, British High Commission official Adrian Jones and Moazzem Hossain Ratan, MP, addressed the discussion, among others.