Citizens Allege Plot to Undermine Telecom Amendment Ordinance

Speakers at a citizens’ rally in Dhaka on Monday alleged that the Ministry of Home Affairs, under the leadership of the Home Affairs Adviser, is conspiring to undermine the Bangladesh Telecommunication (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, in a manner similar to the practices of the previous Hasina government.

The allegation was made at a brief gathering held on December 22 in front of the Shahbag Public Library under the banner of “Citizens from All Walks of Life.”

Human rights activist Rezauur Rahman Lenin said the entire ministry, led by the Home Affairs Adviser, had begun plotting to derail the Bangladesh Telecommunication (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025. He claimed that after coming to power through a mass uprising, efforts were now underway to frustrate the aspirations of that uprising and to preserve the continuity of crimes against humanity.

Speakers at the rally also called on the Home Affairs Adviser to step away from what they described as an anti-uprising stance and demanded his resignation.

Political analyst Baki Billah said fascism was not an individual but a system. “Hasina may be gone, but an incompetent home affairs leadership is trying to keep her system intact. Interfering with the Telecommunication (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 is part of that effort,” he said.

Rasha, organising secretary of the Dhaka University unit of Biplobi Chhatra Maitri, said phone surveillance directly contradicts freedom of expression and democracy. “Bangladesh will not return to the pre–August 5 situation. No matter how hard Jahangir tries, it will not happen,” she added.

The rally was chaired by writer and organiser Nahid Hasan. Others present included activist Rafsan Ahmed, cultural activist Rahman Mufiz, Biplobi Chhatra Maitri general secretary Jaber Ahmed Jubel, Landless Movement general secretary Sheikh Nasir, journalist Shotabdhika Urmi, and Abu Bakkar Moin of the Bangladesh Democratic Movement, among others.

DBTech/NH/EK/OR