HRSS Condemns Arrest Under Cyber Law Over Facebook Post

Human rights organization Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) has expressed strong condemnation and deep concern over the arrest of Golam Mostofa of Parbatipur in Dinajpur under the Cyber Security Act for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman on Facebook. The organization has demanded the immediate release of the detained individual and withdrawal of the case, urging the interim government and relevant authorities to take effective measures to prevent misuse of the Cyber Security Act.

The demand was made by HRSS Executive Director Ejazul Islam in a statement sent to the media on Thursday, January 22.

According to the statement, Golam Mostofa was arrested late at night on January 20 from a local market in Harirampur Union of Parbatipur upazila in Dinajpur. A local BNP leader, Toufiq-ul Islam Tapu, filed the case against him under the Cyber Security Act, accusing him of spreading “obscene, violent, hateful and provocative content” on Facebook concerning Tarique Rahman. Golam Mostofa is the son of Abdul Malek of Mollapara village in the upazila.

The organization stated, “During the tenure of the previous Awami League government, freedom of expression was systematically curtailed through widespread misuse of digital and cyber security laws against individuals who wrote or expressed opinions—directly or on social media—about Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina, the Sheikh family, political figures, party leaders, or related issues. A similar pattern is now being observed in the present period.”

The statement further noted that after August 5, 2024, under the interim government, filing cases or initiating judicial processes over criticism, condemnation, or social media posts concerning specific individuals constitutes a direct violation of human rights and an infringement on freedom of expression. This, HRSS said, indicates that the government and law enforcement agencies have not yet fully moved away from past practices.

The organization believes that the politically motivated misuse of the Cyber Security Act as a tool of harassment remains ongoing, which is unacceptable under any circumstances.

DBTech/BTN/EK/OR