A group of 100 citizens has strongly demanded the repeal of the Cyber Protection Ordinance 2024, describing it as contradictory to the values of the July Revolution and incompatible with the aspirations of a new Bangladesh. In a joint statement released on Sunday, they argued that several provisions of the ordinance are in direct conflict with international human rights conventions. They criticized the law as a reckless authoritarian move against freedom of expression, imposed after the overthrow of a fascist government.
The statement noted that the ordinance’s draft was approved during the December 24 meeting of the interim government’s Advisory Council but urged thorough review before its implementation.
The citizens commended the government’s earlier initiative to repeal the widely criticized Cyber Security Act 2023, calling it “an essential and praiseworthy step.” That law had been abused by the previous regime to suppress freedom of speech and establish a reign of fear and state terror. “The indiscriminate misuse of the previous law was one of the key drivers of the July Revolution. There was an expectation that the interim government would abolish such undemocratic laws and replace them with well-considered legislation upholding freedom of expression, human dignity, and civic rights,” the statement read. Instead, they alleged, the Cyber Protection Ordinance 2024 neglects citizens’ fundamental human rights and, in some cases, undermines them outright.
The ordinance, according to the statement, “fails to foster democratic growth and instead paves the way for further disenfranchisement of the public and increased authoritarianism.” Two of the most contentious sections—35 and 36—were highlighted, which allow law enforcement agencies to seize and search devices or arrest individuals without a warrant. “In a country where police corruption and abuse of power are well-documented, handing law enforcement a new tool for public harassment undermines efforts to increase accountability post-July. Such warrantless actions directly violate privacy, personal freedoms, and fundamental human and civil rights,” the statement argued.
The citizens further criticized Section 8, which allows authorities to block information deemed harmful to national solidarity or religious values, subject to the approval of the director general. They warned that this provision could be easily exploited to curb press freedom and silence dissent. “If any individual or media outlet dares to expose the misconduct of the government or law enforcement, they could easily be targeted under this law,” the statement read. It further stated, “Under the ordinance, state law enforcement and officials will decide what constitutes harm to national solidarity or religious values. Such reckless authoritarian legislation cannot be accepted in the aftermath of a fascist regime.”
Sections 25 and 26 were also flagged for their subjective language regarding “personal harassment, insult, and religious values.” The statement emphasized that these provisions make it easy to file cases with malicious intent. It also highlighted ambiguities in defining terms such as artistic or educational value, questioning how law enforcement could assess these aspects. The lack of accountability mechanisms for police and law enforcement was further criticized, along with vague timelines for presenting evidence before magistrates or tribunals.
The signatories also pointed out that the ordinance contradicts human rights conventions ratified by Bangladesh, including those under the United Nations. “No conscious citizen can accept this ordinance for numerous reasons,” they stated. They reminded the interim government of its moral duty to discard the oppressive legacy of the previous regime and bring hope to the nation. Instead, they argued, the Cyber Protection Ordinance 2024 is nothing more than a rebranded version of old, draconian laws, contrary to the values of the July Movement and the vision of a new Bangladesh.
Signatories of the statement included Shahidul Alam, Sayeed Kabir, Imdadul Haque, Jyotirmoy Barua, Rumi Ahmed Khan, Asif Mohammad Shahan, Shamaruh Mirza, Simu Naser, Subail Bin Alam, Hana Shams Ahmed, Didarul Bhuiyan, Marzia Prova, Rajib Kanti Roy, Ananya Raihan, Saiful Khondker, Sadik Mahbub Islam, and Fahim Mashroor.
