Repeal the black law

Leaders and activists of left-leaning organisations yesterday protested the Digital Security Act (DSA) in front of Raju Memorial Sculpture at Dhaka University, demanding withdrawal of a case lodged on February 27 against their activists on charge of clashing with police at Shahbagh. 

Protesters placed three demands, including immediate release of those arrested under DSA, scrapping the act, judicial inquiry into Mushtaq's death and withdrawing the case against the activists.

Earlier, protesters brought out a procession from Teacher Student Centre (TSC), which marched to Shahbagh and then to Raju Memorial Sculpture.

"This government is afraid of voices of people. It's afraid of students and intellectuals. For this, writer Mushtaq died in custody, and journalist Kajol and cartoonist Kishore had to be kept in jail and tortured," said student leader Tamzid Haider, who got bail recently in the case over the clash.

"We do not want DSA to be amended; we want this 'black law' to be repealed immediately. If you [the government] think by amending this law, you can turn a knife into a rose…you will never be able to do that," said Al Kadere Joy, coordinator of Progressive Students Alliance.

Earlier in a day, Bangladesh Chhatra Moitri brought out a procession, going from Shahbagh to Raju Memorial. They also demanded DSA be repealed.