In a statement issued Thursday, the US-based rights group criticized the current government, describing the arrests as a troubling continuation of repressive practices seen under previous administrations.
HRW said the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) should uphold its commitments to freedom of expression. It also called for an end to the misuse of existing laws to suppress dissent and urged reforms to legal provisions that enable such abuse.
Meenakshi Ganguly, HRW’s deputy Asia director, said that after Bangladeshis risked their lives demanding freedom and human rights, the new government must demonstrate genuine political will for reform.
“It is deeply concerning that within months of taking office, the BNP government is arresting social media users over content it dislikes,” she said.
Ganguly added that the arrests suggest entrenched misuse of the security sector, with law enforcement agencies allegedly shifting loyalty to new leadership rather than upholding rights. She urged the prime minister to send a clear message to both supporters and police that everyone has the right to express their views freely, and to prioritize urgent institutional and legal reforms.
HRW noted that after years of alleged repression, the interim government had attempted legal reform through the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025. While acknowledging some improvements, the organization pointed out that the law includes a provision allowing only affected individuals or their representatives to file complaints regarding online harm.
However, HRW believes this provision has been violated in some recent cases.
According to the group, these incidents set a worrying precedent under the new government, indicating that law enforcement may again be treating free expression as a criminal offense, potentially under pressure from ruling party supporters.
The organization further stated that the ordinance still contains vague definitions of offenses and grants broad powers for investigation and blocking online content with limited judicial oversight—factors that could lead to misuse.
HRW recommended replacing the Cyber Security Ordinance and existing counterterrorism laws with rights-respecting legislation, alongside broader police reforms, including the establishment of a strong and independent police commission to prevent political influence over law enforcement.
Comments Here: