End of a black law

The Digital Security Act (DSA) was enacted not to protect Bangladeshis from cybercrime, but to suppress free speech and dissent. Vague terms like spirit of liberation war and ambiguous phrases such as offensive or annoying speech rendered satire and constructive criticism powerless. Criticism of government actions, officials, or members of the ruling Awami League could be treated as defamation, often punished severely through torture, harassment of families, or enforced disappearance. The law became a tool to silence journalists, scholars, and independent voices.

DSA granted unprecedented powers to law enforcement, allowing arrests, home searches, and seizure of electronic devices without warrants, bypassing judicial oversight. Many offences were non-bailable, forcing accused individuals to spend months-or even years-in jail before trial. The tragic death of writer Mushtaq Ahmed under torture revealed the law's lethal consequences.

From a legal perspective, the DSA exemplified legislation that subverted justice. International legal scholars condemn such vague and repressive laws as instruments of authoritarianism. By weaponizing the law, the government created a climate of fear that stifled the sociopolitical discourse essential for a functioning democracy. It broke the social contract, sacrificing citizens' inalienable rights for unquestioned obedience, and delegitimized the state in the eyes of its people.

The dark era ended on October 9, 2025, when the interim government of Bangladesh announced that all pending DSA cases would be cancelled and all convicted individuals released. Relief and emotion swept the nation. Citizens felt morally and patriotically victorious as the state acknowledged the law's injustice. This landmark decision restored fundamental principles of justice, reaffirming that laws exist to protect the people, not empower the powerful. It brought back human dignity and freedom and ended a nightmare for countless writers, artists, students, and activists.

Punam Shahriar Nirjhar

Student, Department of Law

East West University