A 43-year-old man named Jahangir Alam has been arrested over a Facebook post “mocking” the quota system for freedom fighters in the government jobs of Bangladesh. Jahangir, son of Md Mokhlesur Rahman from CP Road in the Dharanda area of Hakimpur upazila, was taken into custody following a case filed by Freedom Fighter Liakat Ali, the former commander of Upazila Muktijoddha Sangsad. The case was registered under the Cyber Security Act on Wednesday noon. Restoration of Freedom Fighters quota: July 4 set for full bench hearing before Supreme Court  Md Dulal Hossain, officer in charge (OC) of Hakimpur police station, confirmed the arrest and stated that Jahangir was apprehended from his home in the afternoon. The arrestee will be sent to jail through Dinajpur court today, added the OC. “Merit loses when quota wins”: BAU students protest HC order on govt jobs The Facebook post, made by Jahangir on June 17, suggested that "30 percent of the meat of sacrificial animals should be allotted to the grandchildren of freedom fighters." This post quickly went viral, sparking outrage among the family members of freedom fighters.

Law Minister Anisul Huq assured the Parliament on Sunday (February 25, 2024) that the government is dedicated to safeguarding press freedom and will not impose any restrictions on it. He highlighted upcoming legislation aimed at combating misinformation and fake news without infringing on media freedom. Addressing the Parliament in the absence of the State Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mohammad Ali Arafat, Huq responded to concerns raised by Jatiya Party MP from Patuakhali, ABM Ruhul Amin Hawladar, regarding the spread of false news by online media outlets. Home Minister expresses hope for swift conclusion of BDR Carnage Case Hawladar questioned the necessity of a law to prohibit such practices, to which Minister Huq reaffirmed the constitutional guarantee of free speech and press freedom. “Law has to be made in that light and with due respect,” he said. He referenced the existing Cyber Security Act, indicating that it, along with forthcoming laws proposed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, aims to address the issue of misinformation responsibly. The government's approach is to prevent confusion and the spread of fake news through appropriate measures, not control, the Law Minister emphasized, ensuring that the press's freedom remains intact. Read more: Information Minister questions countries’ lack of concern when BBC office in India was searched

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Rahul Kabir Rizvi on Monday feared that the proposed Cyber Security Act could be deadlier than the Digital Security Act (DSA). Speaking at a press briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also said the government has taken the move to transform the Digital Security Act as Cyber Security Act as an eyewash due to local and international pressure. “I don't think anything good can come from the hands of a fascist regime when they are in power. We fear the Cyber Security Act will be more dire and dangerous than the Digital Security Act,” he said. Earlier in the day, Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq said the government has decided to replace the Digital Security Act with the Cyber Security Act 2023, in which some sections of the existing law will be amended. Digital Security Act to be replaced by Cyber Security Act 2023   Rizvi said the country’s people now cannot express their opinion freely for the fear of being subjected to repression in jail and enforced disappearance. “Now the right of assembly of political parties is at the discretion of the police. Voters have lost the right to bring their preferred party to power through a fair election. A subservient information system has been developed to falsify the truth constantly. Some sections of media are being used to spread misinformation and slander with the state patronage,” he observed. The BNP leader alleged that the pro-democratic forces have been carrying out their fight for the restoration of democracy and their lost rights in the face of inhuman torture by the fascist regime. TIB guardedly welcomes Cabinet’s decision to scrap DSA He alleged that the existence of the rule of law, justice and human dignity has been gradually removed from the country through the naked politicisation of the state forces. The BNP leader alleged that the government has so far arrested around 500 BNP leaders and activists centring BNP’s grand rally and sit-in programmes in the capital held on July 28 and 29 respectively. Besides, he claimed that 820 opposition leaders and activists were injured by the ruling party ‘cadres’ and law enforcers in different parts of the country. Imprisonment goes, fines to be main punishment for defamation: Law Minister Rizvi said BNP leaders and workers have been harassed and repressed by police and intelligence agencies before and after July 28 and 29. He said the law enforcers continued arresting the opposition leaders and activists by raiding their houses. “A new dimension is being added to the incident of raiding the houses of BNP leaders and activists by the police and the detective police late at night. Family members are being picked up if leaders and workers are not found. Like the RAB, the detective police force has now become the epitome of terror as the force is now led by high officials loyal to Awami League,” Rizvi alleged.