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‘Pro-democracy’ Yunus govt curbs free speech in Bangladesh, issues notice to intimidate students from speaking against it: All you need to know

Muhammad Yunus, who was once critical of Sheikh Hasina for her alleged 'undemocratic ways' of running Bangladesh, is now silencing students and cubing their ability to criticise him.

In a major development, the interim government of Bangladesh has resorted to brazen censorship. Chief advisor Muhammad Yunus has attempted to stifle criticism of its regime by students and educational institutes through authoritative control.

The Directorate Of Secondary & Higher Education issued a notice [pdf] to this effect on 2nd January this year.

It stated clearly that steps would be taken against students and educational institutes alike for ‘engaging in propaganda’ and ‘peddling misinformation’ against the incumbent interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.

The Directorate Of Secondary & Higher Education added that all concerned authorities should remain ‘alert and active’ and ensure that students are ‘not motivated’ by misinformation, propaganda and rumours about the Yunus regime.

It further highlighted that steps should be taken to prevent students from ‘engaging in provocative activities.’

The Directorate Of Secondary & Higher Education emphasised, “In such a situation, it is requested to inform the higher authorities for taking action against any educational institution or any student involved in the issue of misinformation, propaganda and
rumours.”

The notice, which was marked ‘very important,’ was uploaded to the website of the Directorate Of Secondary & Higher Education on 15th January 2025.

Implications of the directive by Yunus govt

While in theory the notice might be interpreted as a step towards stopping the spread of ‘misinformation’, it is in fact a ploy to silence critics and intimidate students (who spearheaded the movement against the erstwhile Sheikh Hasina government).

Dissent against Bangladesh’s interim government could easily be labelled a ‘work of propaganda’. Students, critical of Muhammad Yunus, would be targeted as engaging in rumour-mongering.

Give the free hand to educational institutions to act against such students, they will be intimidated and coerced into silence.

Yunus, who was once critical of Sheikh Hasina for her alleged ‘undemocratic ways’ of running Bangladesh, is now silencing students and cubing their ability to criticise him.

The notice by the Directorate Of Secondary & Higher Education is a step in the directive to plunge the country into authoritarianism.

Bangladesh on the verge of becoming Pakistan 

In November last year, the High Court of Bangladesh recommended strengthening the Cyber Security Act to make ‘blasphemy’ punishable by life imprisonment and the death penalty in the country.

There should be a provision of punishment like death penalty or life imprisonment for such unnecessary, unconscionable, obstinate and provocative speech and conduct against the Quran and Muhammad (Pbuh), which the parliament may consider,” a 2-Judge Bench of Justices MR Hassan and Fahmida Quader stated.

They further declared, “To discourage any such inflammatory speech or act which is likely to offend the minds of people of any religion, or to cause fear, terror, discomfort or apprehension in any of them, enhancing the punishment for such offences and to make them non-bailable must be considered.

The Bangladesh High Court added, “If the offenders who are involved in the respective links of the charge sheet are not brought under the law, in every case the main culprit or the main conspirator or the main source will remain out of touch. Hence, there needs to be an appropriate order in this regard.

The suggestion by the top court, which is likely to have far-reaching consequences, came amid recent attacks on Hindus by Muslim mobs under the pretext of blasphemy.

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OpIndia Staff
OpIndia Staffhttps://www.opindia.com
Staff reporter at OpIndia

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