PABNA, Bangladesh — June 6, 2025 — A journalist in northwestern Bangladesh has been charged under the country’s Cyber Security Act (CSA) following allegations of defamation made via social media, in a case that has drawn concern from press freedom advocates.

Local police confirmed that the case was filed on Friday at Pabna Sadar Police Station by Sirajum Munira, the district women’s coordinator of an anti-discrimination student movement. The accused, journalist S.M. Adnan Uddin, is affiliated with a regional news outlet.

According to the complaint, Uddin allegedly posted a photograph of Munira on social media accompanied by a caption referring to her as an “extortionist coordinator who has sold everything in her greed for money.” The complaint further alleges that Uddin falsely accused Munira of engaging in extramarital affairs and extortion, and of disseminating similar “false and fabricated” reports through various news platforms, resulting in reputational harm and social humiliation.

In a statement to local media, Uddin rejected the allegations, claiming the lawsuit is politically motivated and aimed at silencing critical reporting. “This is retaliation for exposing alleged extortion involving Munira. Leaders of the anti-discrimination student movement have already declared her persona non grata. This case is an abuse of power. I call for its immediate withdrawal,” he said.

Munira defended her decision to pursue legal action, stating: “I filed the case because harmful, false, and defamatory content about me was being spread online.”

The incident has sparked outcry among local journalists. Jahurul Islam, General Secretary of the Pabna Press Club, said, “No journalist should be subjected to harassment for their work. Such cases often serve to intimidate members of the press.” The club’s president, Akhtaruzzaman Akhtar, along with other senior journalists, also condemned the lawsuit and voiced their protest.

The case comes amid broader concerns over the Cyber Security Act, which replaced the controversial Digital Security Act (DSA) in 2023. Rights watchdog Amnesty International has criticized the CSA as a continuation of repressive legal measures used to curtail freedom of expression and civic dissent in Bangladesh.

In a recent briefing titled Repackaging Repression: The Cyber Security Act and the Continuing Lawfare Against Dissent in Bangladesh, Amnesty noted that the CSA retains many of the “draconian” provisions of the repealed DSA and the earlier ICT Act, and continues to be used to target journalists, human rights defenders, and government critics.

On November 7, 2024, the interim government gave provisional approval to repeal the Cyber Security Act, which has often been described by critics as a “black law” used to suppress dissent. In a meeting chaired by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, the advisory council approved the draft of the “Cyber Security Act (Repeal) Ordinance 2024.”

Following the meeting, the Cabinet Division announced that after vetting by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division, the ordinance would be returned to the advisory council for final approval. Meanwhile, the law ministry—working in consultation with the ICT Division—has been tasked with drafting a new, balanced law focused on ensuring “safety and security” in cyberspace.

The CSA, enacted in 2023, replaced the Digital Security Act (DSA) passed by the former Awami League government in September 2018. Both laws have been widely criticized by journalists, civil society groups, and international human rights organizations for enabling government overreach and silencing of critical voices.