Stop abusing cyber security ordinance

We are outraged by the attack on freedom of expression through the misapplication of Cyber Security Ordinance, 2025. This happened through the recent arrest and detention of content creator AM Hasan Nasim allegedly over his social media post on Jatiya Sangsad Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni. This arrest highlights the stark gap between BNP’s rhetoric and actions. On Saturday, BNP boasted about ensuring freedom of expression in the country—one of the 60 milestones the party claimed to achieve in its first 60 days. Ironically, the night before, around 8 pm on Friday, April 17, police picked up Nasim from the city’s Agargaon area, allegedly for “blackmailing” Moni using social media posts.

The case filed by BNP activist Nazrul Islam at the Gulshan Police Station later on Saturday, April 18, under sections 25 and 27 of the Cyber Security Ordinance is also flawed because Section 40 of the ordinance states that only the aggrieved person, or someone authorised in writing by such aggrieved person, or a member of a law enforcement agency can file cases under this law. Nazrul Islam had no written authorisation from the chief whip. Yet, the police not only took the case but also detained the person even before the FIR was drawn. Such behaviour by the police is reminiscent of the Sheikh Hasina-era arbitrary detention and arrests of thousands under the draconian Digital Security Act, 2018 and Cyber Security Act, 2023. The July uprising was a collective protest against such human rights violations. Yet, Nasim’s arrest indicates that police have reverted to their decades-old nature of catering to the ruling party’s whims, instead of upholding the law. Sadly, the justice system failed the arrestee as well—his bail hearing was postponed on Sunday, April 19, further extending his detention.

The premise of the case is equally disturbing. One of the Facebook posts allegedly used to “blackmail” the chief whip is a cartoon depicting Moni serving three MPs a whale and a shark on a plate. The caption quotes Moni himself, who jokingly said in parliament on April 10 that such items would be served at a lunch. How can a joke made in a public forum, printed in newspapers, and a cartoon based on that joke constitute “blackmail”? Does this signal the return to an authoritarian climate where political cartoons are effectively censored? This was not expected from BNP, whose electoral pledge suggests otherwise.

We urge BNP to uphold its promise of protecting freedom of speech and expression and to prevent overzealous supporters from undermining this right. We also call for Nasim’s immediate release and an end to arbitrary arrests and the misuse of laws.