Political leaders, legal experts, and civil rights analysts have expressed grave concern that proposed amendments to the Cyber Security Act could pave the way for "digital fascism" and curb freedom of speech across Bangladesh.
Speaking at a seminar titled "Proposed Amendments to Cyber Security Act—Freedom of Speech and the Future of Civil Rights" organized by the Reform Implementation Committee of the National Citizen Party (NCP) at the National Press Club on Saturday (October 10, 2026), key speakers dissected the risks associated with vague legal definitions. Presenting the keynote paper, academic Dr. Nabila Idris warned that unclarified terms regarding "rumors" and "online defamation" create a severe "chilling effect," discouraging citizens from expressing legitimate criticism out of fear of arbitrary harassment and arrest.
AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Manju questioned Section 26(A), pointing out that without transparent standards, well-intentioned citizens could face unjust prosecution. NCP Joint Convener Sarwar Tushar highlighted that recent arrests over social media posts signal growing digital authoritarianism, cautioning that a parliamentary majority does not grant immunity from public accountability. Analyst Apurbo Jahangir urged the government to reconsider bureaucratic control over content removal and align legislative frameworks with constitutional freedoms.
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Reported by Staff Reporter • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
