Hasnat calls for stronger freedom of expression in JS

Cumilla-4 MP and National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Hasnat Abdullah on Sunday called for ensuring genuine freedom of expression in the country, including the right to openly criticise the prime minister in Parliament.

He made the remarks on April 26 while taking part in the discussion on the motion of thanks on the President’s address in Parliament.

Hasnat said that while freedom of expression formally exists, in practice it is largely limited to agreement. He stressed the need for a democratic space where dissenting views, including criticism of the head of government, can be expressed inside Parliament.

“We want the space to express disagreement; we want to be able to criticise even the prime minister while standing in Parliament,” he said, adding that citizens are being arrested in some cases for expressing opinions.

He alleged that since the formation of the current Parliament, at least nine incidents of arrest have taken place over remarks made in the name of free expression, including cases involving comments about a state minister. He said this contradicts the government’s stated commitment to free speech.

Referring to the political environment, Hasnat said that although the prime minister has occasionally encouraged free expression through satire and cartoons, such openness is not reflected at the field level.
He also criticised what he described as a “compulsory political culture” in universities, saying that while students from political families study abroad, middle-class students are being pushed into political involvement. He said universities should focus on education and research rather than producing political leaders.

Hasnat further questioned why ordinances related to the Human Rights Commission and the Police Commission have not yet been placed before Parliament.

Calling for attention to the views of the younger generation, he urged the government to understand their language and concerns. He also warned that continued divisive politics would not benefit any party and could create space for “anti-state forces” to take advantage of the situation.