Dhaka: Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid on Monday gave his assent to a controversial new law that local media organisations fear could cripple press freedom and curb free speech in the country.

President Hamid has assented to the Digital Security Bill passed in the 22nd session of the current parliament, making it a law.

 ‘The President has given his assent to the Digital Security Act today making it law,’ said Joynal Abedin, press secretary to the president, the Reuters reported.

The South Asian nation’s parliament passed the Digital Security Act on Sept. 19, combining the colonial-era Official Secrets Act with tough new provisions such as allowing police to arrest individuals without a warrant.

Last month, protests by local media groups against the new legislation were cancelled after the government held talks with them and promised to amend the legislation to address some of their concerns.

The 22nd session of the 10th parliament, which was prorogued on September 20, passed a total of 18 bills, including the Digital Security Bill 2018 and Road Transport Bill 2018, reports the UNB.

The Digital Security Bill, 2018’ was passed to deal with cybercrimes, including hurting the religious sentiment, negative propaganda against the Liberation War and Bangabandhu, and illegal activities in e-transactions and spreading defamatory data.