Distinguished Professor of Politics and Government Ali Riaz, noted expert on Bangladeshi politics, was quoted in a report of the DW, the German International Broadcaster. The report explores the impact of a new digital security law that many fear seeks to curtail journalists from investigating corruption in government.
“The public has a right to know and the new act has brought out an ax to cut the transparency and accountability out of governance.”
The act renders any secret recording of government activities acts of espionage, punishable by up to 14 years in prison and subject to thousands of dollars in fines. While representatives from the government claim that any investigative journalism should be done in the open, others, including Riaz, view the law as a violation of freedom of expression. “The public has a right to know and the new act has brought out an ax to cut the transparency and accountability out of governance,” said Riaz.
