Satkhira Correspondent

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md. Asaduzzaman said that the government is working to ensure freedom of speech, expression and conscience, but it is also very important to control yellow journalism and attempts to defame people on social media.

The Law Minister made these remarks during a coordination meeting and exchange of views with journalists on maintaining law and order, controlling drugs and corruption, and ensuring good governance at the Satkhira District Commissioner's conference room on Sunday.

The Law Minister said that the Cyber Act-2026 is not enough to curb cybercrime. Therefore, an initiative has been taken to amend the law. Although the amendment proposal was sent to the cabinet, it has been sent again to a subcommittee for further scrutiny, taking into account the issue of people's freedom of speech. The public consultation process has already started on this amendment proposal. In the first phase, discussions have been held with the editors of various national-level newspapers and electronic media, and opinions of people from different classes and professions of the society are also being taken in phases.

Stating that a decision has been taken to strictly crack down on political and economic corruption and extortion, the minister said that in this case, the police have been given clear instructions not to give importance to the political identity of the criminal.

The Law Minister said that various problems of the judiciary in the border district of Satkhira have been heard and initiatives will be taken to resolve them. It will also be investigated whether bail is being granted outside the court infrastructure. .

Earlier in the morning, the Law Minister exchanged views with district-level judicial officers at the conference room of the Satkhira District Judge's Court. In the meeting chaired by District and Sessions Judge Md. Nazrul Islam,

Addressing the judges, the minister also said that the rate of case disposal should be increased to ensure speedy trial for litigants and the working hours of the judges should be utilized properly. He stressed on making legal aid public-friendly and reducing the backlog of cases by resolving disputes through mediation. Assuring the local judges, the minister said that the financial independence of the judiciary will be ensured and necessary additional allocations will be provided. He said that judges and staff will be appointed very quickly in the 23 new courts that have been created in Satkhira.

The coordination meeting, chaired by District Administrator Kausar Aziz, was attended by local MPs, MPs from reserved women seats, Khulna Range DIG, District Council Administrator Habibul Islam Habib, District BNP convener Rahmatullah Palash, former convener Adv Syed Iftekhar Ali, BNP leaders Abdur Rouf, Tajkin Ahmed Chishti, and current and former presidents of Satkhira Press Club Abul Kashem and Momtaz Ahmed Bapi, respectively, along with other political, social figures and media workers.