The Bangladesh government has been facing heat from the international community after a writer, Mushtaq Ahmad, who had been arrested under the Digital Security Act last year and died last week in police custody, with several now calling for amending the law. 

In order to placate concern regarding the draconian law, Bangladesh Law Minister Anisul Haq on Tuesday said efforts are being taken to mitigate the misuse of the law. 

“We are saying no cases will be lodged right away. If there is any allegation, police will investigate and accept the case accordingly,” the law minister was quoted as saying by The Daily Star. 

This comes after UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Monday criticized the government of Bangladesh for using the act to suppress the freedom of expression and political dissent. It also called for revisiting the act.

“There needs to be an overhaul of the Digital Security Act under which Ahmad was charged-and all those detained under this act for exercise their right to freedom of expression and opinion must be released,” Bachelet said in a statement released on Monday. 

Days earlier, 13 ambassadors of western countries based in Dhaka released a statement, expressing “grave concern” over the death of the writer and called the government to carry out a quick and independent probe into the incident. The group also expressed “concern” over the controversial Digital Security Act. 

Reacting to the joint statement issued by the group of ambassadors, Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momin advised the media in Bangladesh not to give publicity to such statements.