[🇧🇩] Anti Terrorism Ordinance

[Saif]

Date of Event: May 12, 2025 Source : https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/advisory-council-approves-anti-terrorism-ordinance-with-provisions-to-ban-entities

Advisory council approves anti-terrorism ordinance with provisions to ban entities
BSS
Published :
May 11, 2025 19:19
Updated :
May 11, 2025 19:19

The Council of Advisers on Sunday approved the draft of the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 with provisions to ban individuals or entities involved in terrorist acts and their activities.

The council made the approval to the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 at a special meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in the chair.

The meeting was held at the State Guest House Jamuna here, said a press release issued by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing.

According to the summary of the meeting, the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009, was enacted to make provisions for the prevention of certain terrorist acts and ensure their effective punishment.

To meet the purpose of the act, the government may, on the basis of reasonable grounds that any person or entity is involved in terrorist acts, list such person in the Schedule or declare the entity prohibited and list it in the Schedule by issuing official gazette notifications.

However, there is no provision in the existing law regarding the prohibition of the activities of any entity.

Since the matter needs to be clarified, it is appropriate and necessary to further amend the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009 to make it time-befitting.

In such context, the Anti-Terrorism Act has been amended to prohibit the activities of any entity, make necessary adaptations and include provisions prohibiting the promotion in online and social media.

The amended law may be issued in the form of an ordinance tomorrow, the press release said.​

 

[Saif]

Editors' Council voices concerns over new clause in Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance

he clause could significantly restrict citizens' right to free expression and limit press freedom, which is a matter of serious concern,

en.prothomalo.com

Editors' Council voices concerns over new clause in Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance
UNB Dhaka
Published: 20 May 2025, 22: 30

Editors’ Council logo

The Editors’ Council has expressed grave concern over the recently promulgated ‘Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance 2025’, saying that a new clause in the law could severely curtail freedom of expression and media’s rights in the country.

The clause could significantly restrict citizens' right to free expression and limit press freedom, which is a matter of serious concern, the council said in a joint statement signed by its president Mahfuz Anam and general secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud.

The scope for misuse of such a clause is high and it is not expected from the interim government to introduce such sweeping restrictions, the Council said.

The concern came following the issuance of a gazette by the interim government on 12 May before the Awami League was declared a banned organisation.

According to the gazette, a new clause has been added to sub-section (1), clause (Uma) of section 20(b) of the Anti-Terrorism Act 2009 (Act No. 16 of 2009).

The new clause prohibits the publication or printing of any press release, and any form of campaign via mass media, online platforms, social media, or any other medium as well as organising rallies, meetings, press conferences, or public speeches on behalf of or in support of a declared entity, it said.

The council called for the immediate suspension and reconsideration of the clause.​