Nipun Demands Justice for Dismissed Teacher and Criticizes Social Media Surveillance
Prominent filmmaker Ashfaque Nipun has called for the reinstatement of Monibul Haque Bosunia, a teacher who was reportedly dismissed from his position four months after criticizing an adviser to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education on Facebook. Nipun also urged the government’s chief adviser to end the practice of monitoring and penalizing citizens for expressing dissent on social media.
In a Facebook post made on Sunday, May 18, Nipun tagged the verified page of the chief adviser and wrote, “Please stop this tradition of surveillance and punishment for criticizing the government on Facebook.”
Referring to Bosunia’s case, he stated, “Teacher Monibul Haque Bosunia was fired four months after posting a Facebook criticism about a statement made by an adviser to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education. Meanwhile, five employees of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock were served show-cause notices simply for reacting with a ‘sad’ emoji to a post by journalist Zulkar Nine Sayer about the ministry secretary. Unbelievable!”
Highlighting the contradiction between official rhetoric and administrative actions, Nipun added, “You are a citizens’ government formed through the victory of a mass uprising. The chief adviser often says in speeches that people should feel free to criticize the government. Social media is the platform where citizens express their views. If a teacher is dismissed for a critical post and employees are punished for harmless reactions, then there can be no greater example of double standards.”
Nipun emphasized that punishing individuals for social media criticism is not part of any reformative governance model. He wrote, “Punishing people for social media criticism does not align with any model of reform. Rather, a true reform—one that began under Sheikh Hasina’s tenure—would be to recognize and accept criticism, understand the grievances and pain of citizens, ensure their safety, and if needed, reform the laws.”
Concluding his statement, Nipun appealed, “Immediately reinstate teacher Bosunia and hold accountable the ministries that have taken such punitive measures. Criticizing the government is the right of citizens, not a privilege granted by the state.”
