National Citizen Party (NCP) lawmaker Hasnat Abdullah has alleged that an environment of fear and intimidation is being re-established in Bangladesh, warning that dissenting voices are increasingly under pressure.
Speaking in Parliament on Sunday, Hasnat Abdullah criticised what he described as growing restrictions on free expression and a return to retaliatory legal actions against opposition figures.
Taking part in the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s address, chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, the MP expressed concern that the political gains achieved through recent movement were being undermined.
He claimed that individuals are facing harassment for expressing opinions critical of the government, including on social media platforms. According to him, several incidents have occurred where people were allegedly detained or questioned over online comments.
Hasnat Abdullah also said that democracy must ensure the right not only to agree but also to disagree, stressing that citizens should be able to criticise political leaders without fear of reprisal.
The NCP lawmaker also raised concerns over the situation in universities, alleging attempts to revive partisan practices that could disrupt academic environments.
He urged that campuses be kept free from political interference and instead focus on education and research.
In addition, he questioned the pace of institutional reforms, pointing to issues surrounding bodies such as the human rights commission and police reform initiatives.
He further criticised what he termed a disconnect between policymakers and ordinary citizens, saying the daily struggles of people cannot be fully understood from within privileged settings.
Concluding his speech, Hasnat Abdullah warned that a return to confrontational politics could reverse recent progress and weaken democratic institutions.
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