Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has expressed deep concern over the arrest and harassment of citizens and political activists across the country for expressing dissenting opinions online. In a joint statement issued on Monday, the organization’s central president Nurul Islam and secretary general Sibgatullah condemned the incidents, alleging that the government has become desperate to silence public voices on social media within two months of coming to power.

The statement cited several recent arrests, including individuals from Mymensingh, Dhaka, Munshiganj, Thakurgaon, and Bhola, allegedly detained for sharing Facebook posts or cartoons. The leaders described these actions as part of a broader effort to suppress dissent, accusing the government of double standards after promising freedom of speech before the election. They also criticized the misuse of the Cyber Security Act and Section 54 to target activists and ordinary citizens.

Chhatra Shibir demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees, including Hasan Nasim and Azizul Haque, and urged the government to accept criticism instead of intimidating the public.