HRW concerned over arrest of 4 for Facebook posts

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has expressed deep concern over the arrest of four individuals in Bangladesh for allegedly posting content on Facebook. In a statement issued on Thursday, the US-based rights group said the move reflects the repressive practices of the previous administration and is contrary to freedom of expression.

HRW said in the statement that the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman should uphold its commitments to freedom of expression . It also called for an end to the misuse of laws to suppress dissent and urged the reform or replacement of legal provisions that allow for such abuse.

Meenakshi Ganguly, HRW's deputy Asia director, said, "Bangladeshis risked their lives demanding freedom and human rights. The new government needs to show genuine political will for reform. It is deeply concerning that within months of taking office, the BNP government is arresting social media users over content it dislikes".

Ganguly further said the arrests suggest entrenched misuse of the security sector. She urged the prime minister to send a strong message to both supporters and police that everyone has the right to express their views freely, and to prioritise urgent institutional and legal reforms.

According to the organisation, the interim government attempted legal reform through the 2025 Cyber Security Ordinance. While acknowledging some improvements, HRW pointed out that the law includes a provision allowing only affected individuals or their representatives to file complaints regarding online harm, which has been violated in recent cases.

The statement also said the Cyber Security Ordinance and the anti-terrorism law should be replaced with rights-respecting legislation. HRW also called on the government to initiate police reforms by establishing an independent police commission so that officers can work impartially rather than remaining loyal to the incumbent government.