Digital oppression in Bangladesh The Listening Post feature.
Bangladesh’s legal system includes laws that have been weaponised against those who dare to express political dissent against the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina – or anyone who questions basic tenets of Islam - the religion of nearly 90% of Bangladeshis.
One of those laws, the Digital Security Act, has only been on the books for four years - but more than 1,500 people have been charged under it.
The DSA is written in a way that is tailor-made for abuse. Politicians have been jailed, writers have died in prison awaiting trial - and governmental promises to reform the law have come to nothing.
