BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan has criticized the use of vague legal provisions to harass and repress citizens.
He stated that if a law contains ambiguities that lead to public suffering, it is the lawmakers’ responsibility to eliminate those ambiguities.
Speaking at a seminar held in Dhaka on Saturday, Nazrul Islam addressed the implications of the recently introduced Cyber Security Ordinance 2025.
The seminar was organized to evaluate how much protection the ordinance actually provides.
Nazrul Islam remarked that while the ordinance promises reforms, it has failed to address core issues.
"Necessary changes have not been made through this ordinance. Though it offers relief for individuals previously punished under earlier laws, the same controversial provisions have reappeared in a different section, allowing authorities to continue arrests under similar charges. This is utterly irrational," he said.
He emphasized that laws are meant for people, but questioned whether ordinary citizens actually understand them.
He urged politicians, political parties, and civil society to take the initiative to educate the public about such laws.
He further asserted that those who misuse legal authority and abuse their power to oppress citizens must be held accountable and face proper consequences.
Nazrul Islam also pointed out that important decisions in Bangladesh often go through consensus-based commissions, yet the Cyber Security Ordinance was not subject to such deliberations.
During the seminar, Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna criticized Section 35 of the ordinance, which allows arrest without a warrant. He argued that despite the government’s claim that the provision has been narrowed, in practice, law enforcement operates without constraint.
"The police don’t need the presence of a law to take action. They operate beyond limitations," he said, adding that the ordinance must be repealed.
Manna also condemned the recent rise in mob violence and the deteriorating law and order situation.
Referring to the mob that targeted former Chief Election Commissioner Nurul Huda at his residence, Manna asked, "What kind of culture is this? If someone is guilty, punish them through a judicial process."
He also mentioned the attack on the residence of former Faridpur-3 MP A.K. Azad, stating that such acts of vandalism threaten the country’s democratic values. "How can democracy survive if such destruction becomes the norm?" he asked.
He also expressed alarm over recent incidents where accused individuals were forcibly taken from police custody, calling it a serious failure of the government.
