Online safety & content laws in Bangladesh (2026)

Bangladesh has revised its online-speech law three times since 2006 — ICT Act s.57, Digital Security Act 2018, Cyber Security Act 2023, and now the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025 — with each iteration retaining core repressive elements of its predecessor despite promised reforms. Over 7,000 cases were filed under the DSA alone through January 2023.

Promulgated 21 May 2025, the Ordinance repealed 9 provisions of the CSA 2023 — including provisions criminalising criticism of the Liberation War and national leaders — reduced maximum imprisonment to two years, made all speech-related offences bailable, and recognised internet access as a civic right; approximately 95% of pending CSA cases are expected to be automatically cancelled.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission retains power to order ISPs and platforms to block or remove online content on broad 'cyber security' grounds without mandatory judicial oversight or a right of appeal; this authority persists under the 2025 Ordinance and has been used to suppress political dissent and journalism.

The Telecommunications (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, approved December 2025, inserted Section 97 permanently prohibiting suspension of internet or telecom services under any circumstances, a direct legislative response to the nationwide internet shutdown imposed during the July–August 2024 student-led uprising that lasted several weeks.

The December 2025 Telecommunications Amendment Ordinance extended BTRC's jurisdiction to social media, OTT, cloud, AI, and e-commerce services; a separate BTRC draft regulation for digital/social-media/OTT platforms would require mandatory registration and impose content-removal obligations. A coalition of 45+ civil-society organisations led by Access Now called for the draft to be withdrawn as it risks enabling sweeping content takedowns and chilling free expression.

Freedom House's Freedom on the Net 2025 report rates Bangladesh 'Not Free', documenting the 2024 shutdowns, use of digital laws to arrest journalists and activists, and sustained restrictions on political speech online; no age-verification or EU/UK-style platform-liability regime exists.