Bangladesh’s interim authorities warns media towards publishing statements of ‘fugitive’ Sheikh Hasina

Bangladesh’s interim authorities has warned all print, digital and on-line media shops to chorus from reporting statements issued by “convicted and fugitive” deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, citing issues over nationwide safety and public order.

The National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) in a press launch issued on Monday (November 17, 2025) claimed that Ms. Hasina’s statements could include directives or calls able to inciting “violence, dysfunction and felony actions” and disrupting social concord, The Daily Star newspaper reported.

“We urge the media to behave responsibly within the curiosity of nationwide safety,” the discharge stated.

The company stated it was “deeply involved” that some media organisations have been broadcasting and publishing remarks attributed to “convicted” and “fugitive” Ms. Hasina.

Noting that airing or publishing statements from people who’re each convicted and fugitive violates provisions of the Cyber Security Ordinance, the company warned that authorities are empowered to “remove or block content that threatens national integrity, security or public order, promotes ethnic or religious hatred, or directly incites violence”.

It additional stated that utilizing a false id or illegally accessing techniques to unfold hate speech, ethnic incitement or requires violence is a punishable offence, and gives for penalties of as much as two years of imprisonment and/or fines of as much as Tk 10 lakh.

Emphasising that it respects freedom of the press and expression, the NCSA urged media homes to “avoid” carrying any “violent, instigating or criminally provocative” statements from convicted people and to “remain mindful of their legal obligations”.

Ms. Hasina, 78, was on Monday (November 17) sentenced to loss of life in absentia by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) for “crimes against humanity” over her authorities’s brutal crackdown on student-led protests final yr.

It additionally handed the loss of life sentence to former residence minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on related prices.

Ms. Hasina has been residing in India since she fled Bangladesh on August 5 final yr within the face of the huge protests. She was earlier declared a fugitive by the court docket.

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has hailed the decision, saying the ruling affirmed a basic precept, “no one, regardless of power, is above the law”.

Commenting on the decision, Ms. Hasina denied the fees as “biased and politically motivated” and stated the judgment has been made by a “rigged tribunal” established and presided over by an “unelected government with no democratic mandate”.