Freedom on the Net, Bangladesh

Internet freedom improved in 2017 after a break in a years-long trend of violence targeting secular bloggers. But the number of detentions for online content shot up during the same period, and 35 news websites were reported blocked. The government of the Bangladesh Awami League party under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina officially encourages open internet access and communication to promote development. Private commercial stakeholders have also helped in the proliferation of internet usage. Bangladesh further benefits from a vibrant—if often partisan—traditional media industry, though journalists face threats and legal constraints. News websites were blocked in 2016, and one outlet was punished for spreading a rumor involving the Prime Minister’s son, even though their report said the rumor was unverified. The coverage period saw fewer reports of violence in reprisal for online speech, though there was a resurgence in a disturbing trend of unknown actors manipulating Facebook posts to instigate attacks on religious minorities. In October 2016, a minority community was attacked in Nasirnagar over a Facebook post supposedly posted by an illiterate Hindu youth, who was later arrested under the Information and Communication Technology Act of 2006 (ICT Act). Several dozen individuals were arrested under that law for online comments on a range of issues, including many about the prime minister and other leaders.