Chhatra Dal condemns cyberbullying case filed by Shadiq Kayem

Bangla Press Desk:  The Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal has strongly condemned Islami Chhatra Shibir leader and incumbent DUCSU Vice-President Shadiq Kayem for filing what it describes as “fabricated and harassing” cybercrime cases against several Facebook pages and users.

Kayem, a former president of Chhatra Shibir’s Dhaka University unit and currently one of the organisation’s central leaders, recently lodged cases accusing several social media accounts of spreading misinformation. Chhatra Dal, however, alleges that the cases are baseless and intended to suppress freedom of expression.

In a statement on Monday, Chhatra Dal claimed that by initiating cybercrime charges, Kayem had “trampled on online freedom of expression”. They further alleged that Kayem, who was long involved in Chhatra League politics before joining Shibir, had adopted “Awami-Baksali tactics” of silencing dissent.

The organisation accused Kayem of targeting even meme pages and troll accounts as part of what it calls a broader display of intolerance. “His case-terror reflects Chhatra Shibir’s deep-rooted intolerance,” the statement said.

Chhatra Dal noted that the current interim government has abolished the previous "fascist-era" cyber law to restore public freedom of expression. It added that the existing Cyber Security Act does not allow the filing of defamation cases. “Kayem has followed Sheikh Hasina’s footsteps by abusing the law,” the statement alleged, claiming the complaints do not fall under any criminal offence defined in the Cyber Security Act or other laws.

The organisation accused Kayem of misusing legal procedures to suppress political opponents, reminding that Section 28 of the Cyber Security Ordinance penalises individuals who knowingly file false complaints. They also alleged that Kayem had previously posted false rape allegations against a BNP leader and that his online supporters had engaged in organised harassment of women and dissenting voices.

Chhatra Dal termed the filing of cyber cases against students by someone holding the DUCSU vice-president position as “shameful and unprecedented”, accusing Kayem of tarnishing the office and undermining students’ right to free online expression.

Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir urged Kayem to withdraw the case and issue an apology to the students.

BP/TD