A roundtable held in capital Dhaka on the Cyber Security Act (CSA) has once again highlighted the oppressive nature of laws used to stifle free speech and instill fear among the public during the fascist regime of the deposed Hasina government.
A report published in an English daily on Wednesday emphasized the need for the government to heed the growing voices from civil society, human rights defenders, legal experts, and victims, all of whom are calling for the immediate repeal of this draconian law.
The CSA, enacted in 2023 as a successor to the infamous Digital Security Act (DSA) and the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act, has been nothing short of a repressive instrument used to muzzle dissent and intimidate citizens.
The sheer number of cases filed – 275 under the CSA alone, and thousands more under the DSA and ICT Act – testifies to how these laws have been weaponised against ordinary citizens.
From journalists and activists to teachers and students, many have been unjustly incarcerated for expressing opinions or sharing information online, often for reasons as innocuous as critiquing the government.
We have to say there is no alternative to outright repeal of the repressive laws like the CSA because and as long as such laws exist, free expression in the digital sphere will be under threat.
We must say, the government should act swiftly, not only to repeal the CSA but also to scrap all ongoing cases under it and provide compensation and apologies to the victims.
Furthermore, those responsible for misusing these laws – from law enforcement agencies to members of the judiciary – must be held accountable. This is essential to prevent a recurrence of such abuses under any future legislation.
There should be a legal framework that genuinely protects citizens’ rights online – one that ensures security without undermining fundamental freedoms. The digital space should serve as a platform for robust debate, creative expression, and critical engagement, not as a battleground where dissent is silenced through intimidation and legal persecution.
As Bangladesh looks to the future, it is crucial that the government restores faith in democratic values by repealing the CSA and replacing it with legislation that safeguards – not suppresses – free speech. Only then can we hope to build a society where both physical and digital freedoms are truly respected.