A madrasa student in Bangladesh was jailed after posting criticism of the 2024 July uprising on Facebook. The incident highlights increasing restrictions on free speech under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, drawing concern from global rights groups and raising alarms about freedom of expression in the country.
A madrasa student from Tongi in Gazipur district near Dhaka has been imprisoned following a social media post criticizing the 2024 July uprising in Bangladesh. The incident has drawn sharp reactions from free speech advocates both inside the country and abroad, raising concerns over increasing restrictions on civil liberties under the interim government.
The student, whose identity remains undisclosed due to his age and legal sensitivity, allegedly made a Facebook post that was deemed “objectionable” by some locals and fellow students. In retaliation, a group of individuals physically assaulted the student on the campus of Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasa, forcibly shaved his head, and handed him over to the police.
Tongi West Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Iskander Habibur Rahman confirmed the incident and stated that a case has been filed against the student. “He posted a remark on Facebook that was deemed offensive regarding the July uprising,” Rahman told The Daily Star, a prominent Bangladeshi newspaper.
The event reportedly occurred on Tuesday evening, and by Wednesday afternoon, the police had produced the student before a local court. The court subsequently ordered his imprisonment.
In response to growing questions about the treatment of the student, madrasa officials and student leaders justified their actions by citing concerns over law and order. “We have handed him over to the Tongi West Police Station considering the demands and safety,” said Saidul Islam, General Secretary of the madrasa’s student council.
Echoing the sentiment, madrasa Principal Hifazur Rahman added, “Since the matter is sensitive, we have handed him over to the police in the interest of maintaining law and order. The police will take further action in accordance with the law.”
Broader Concerns Over Free Speech
The incident has reignited the debate over freedom of speech in Bangladesh, especially under the interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus. A collective of 88 expatriate Bangladeshi journalists, writers, researchers, cultural figures, and human rights activists have issued a joint statement condemning the recent wave of suppression.
They expressed “grave concern over the continued torture of journalists and suppression of free speech” in Bangladesh, arguing that both mass media and social media are being subjected to “various official and unofficial controls” by the current administration.
Labeling the situation as “shameful and repulsive,” the signatories emphasized the dangerous precedent being set in silencing dissent and penalizing those who question the political status quo.
Background: The July Uprising
The 2024 July uprising marked a significant turning point in Bangladesh’s political history. Beginning on July 1, students across the country launched mass protests demanding reform of the quota system in government employment. The movement quickly turned violent and widespread, culminating in the dramatic ousting of the democratically-elected government of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August.
While some hailed the protests as a necessary response to systemic inequality, others viewed the sudden regime change as a threat to democratic stability. Since then, human rights watchdogs have repeatedly accused the interim administration of orchestrating crackdowns on dissent, manipulating media narratives, and curbing individual freedoms.
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The imprisonment of a student for a critical Facebook post is now being seen as the latest example of this alarming trend. Rights groups argue that the government is using law enforcement and social pressure to stifle even the mildest criticism, effectively weaponizing legal and social institutions against freedom of expression.
As Bangladesh moves forward under its interim administration, the arrest serves as a stark reminder of the fragile state of civil liberties in the country. The international community and human rights observers will likely keep a close eye on the developments, especially as the country prepares for its next phase of political transition.
