Widespread protests against reported abuse of the Digital Security Act and prosecutions and arrests of journalists under the act continue in Dhaka and across the country.

Different political parties and socio-cultural organisations organised protests pressing for scrapping the Digital Security Act in Dhaka and at places across the country, including Rajshahi, Jashore, Barisal and Brahmanbaria.

The protesters, including politicians, students and activists, in different parts of the country called on Saturday the government to scrap the Digital Security Act and release arrested Prothom Alo journalist Samsuzzaman Shams and withdraw the cases filed under the act.

They also protested against the filing of case against Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman and sending the daily’s Savar correspondent Samsuzzaman to jail.

The Ganosamhati Andolan, a partner of Ganatantra Mancha, at a protest rally in front of the National Press Club on Saturdsy Dhaka demanded immediate repeal of the DSA.

Addressing the rally, the party’s chief coordinator Zonayed Saki said that the government was using the DSA to stop the dissenting voices and to control the media.

He demanded immediate release of detained Samsuzzaman, and said that they would wage mass movement in the country to compel the government to quit the power. 

Samsuzzaman’s mother Karimun Nesa joined a human chain in Dhaka’s Dhamrai on Saturday along with her family members and members of Dhamrai Reporters Club and Dhamrai Press Club on the Dhaka-Aricha highway in the morning.

She demanded the release of her son.

In a human chain in front of the National Press Club, the Gono Odhikar Parishad called on the government to scrap the DSA and to release of people detained under the law.

They held the rally demanding establishment of freedom of press and protesting against Sultana Jasmine’s death in custody of the Rapid Action Battalion and high prices of essentials.

Activists under a banner of Nipiroiner Biruddhe Shahbagh held a protest rally where activist Akramul Haque said that the government was spreading fear with the DSA but it was not possible to rule the country by fear.

At a human chain and protest rally in front of the National Museum at the capital’s Shahbagh, former students of different batches of Jahangirnagar University demanded the release of their fellow Samsuzzaman.

Kallol Bhowmik, a student of the 32nd batch of the  university, said the prices of essentials were increasing every day and in such a situation, a former student of Jahangirnagar University acted responsibly, his voice was suppressed.

Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Oikya Parishad in a statement on Saturday demanded suspension of the application of the DSA until its amendment.

The minority rights organisation also expressed deep condemnation and protested at the repeated misuse of the DSA that triggered immense harassment and misery to the religious and ethnic minority groups.