We have unfortunately been here throughout our history, with any form of dissent and criticism being brutally shut down. However, we simply cannot hope to move forward as a nation if we keep clinging to retrograde practices that silence dissent and criminalize free speech. We say that we are looking to turn a corner and leave behind a legacy of suppression. Freedom of speech is not a threat but the lifeblood of democracy. A society that fears criticism simply cannot reform itself and a government that punishes speech is not one that can claim to be democratic.

Source: Dhaka Tribune January 25, 2026 13:10 UTC