Data Protection Act will protect data, not exert control: Anisul

Law Minister Anisul Huq on Sunday said the Data Protection Act will be enacted putting emphasis on protecting the data, not controlling it.

“I can assure everyone that emphasis will be given to enact a law, which will protect the data, not control it,” he said while speaking at a stakeholders’ consultation on the draft Data Protection Act as the chief guest at a city hotel in the morning.

The minister said the proposed draft law incorporated the recommendations received after publishing it on the website.

State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak presided over the event while Secretary NM Zeaul Alam delivered welcome address, BSS reports.

Senior legislative expert and former Senior Secretary of the Legislative Division M Shahidul Haque presented the summary of the law.

Foreign Secretary (senior secretary) Masud Bin Momen, M Shahidul Haque and Director of the National Data Center Tarique M Barkatullah moderated the open discussion while Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division Secretary Md Moinul Kabir spoke at the event as the special guest.

Representatives from different government, non-government, business and multinational organizations and foreign missions in Dhaka took part in the consultation and gave their opinions to make the law more people centric.

Anisul said, “Today’s consultation will follow  more consultations to seek further opinions and the law will be enacted incorporating all the logical suggestions so the law can bring welfare for all and be accepted by all.”

The ICT Division has taken note of stakeholders’ concerns, suggestions and opinions, the minister said, adding that these will further enrich the draft Data Protection Act before next consultation.