Communication is now one of the most decisive forces governing the state in Bangladesh. Policymaking, administrative control, and conventional political management remain as necessary as ever, but they are no longer enough on their own. Today, a rumour can spread faster than an official instruction.

People are gradually losing their trust and confidence in law enforcement agencies due to their “continued involvement in criminal activities,” including custodial deaths and disappearance of detainees, rights activists, academics and lawyers have said.