The Global Network Initiative (GNI) is concerned by the opaque, exclusionary, and accelerated digital policy reform process undertaken by the Interim Government of Bangladesh. What initially appeared to be a positive shift toward building a rights-respecting and citizen-centric digital ecosystem has been undermined by serious deficiencies in coordination, transparency, and accountability in the policymaking process led by the interim administration. GNI, a multistakeholder organization of over 100 academic, civil society, investor, and company members working to advance freedom of expression and privacy in the technology sector, calls on – all political parties and relevant stakeholders in Bangladesh to uphold human rights in the context of February’s national elections and to prioritize open, transparent, and rights-based digital policy reforms soon thereafter.
Although some positive steps have been taken by the Interim Government to curb unchecked internet shutdowns, recent ordinances – particularly the Bangladesh Telecommunication (Amendment) Ordinance (BTO) 2025, the Personal Data Protection Ordinance (PDPO) 2025, the National Data Management Ordinance (NDMO) 2025, and the Cyber Security Ordinance (CSO) 2025 – largely reproduce the centralized, state-centric governance model of previous governments. Despite early commitments to open, inclusive, and evidence-based lawmaking, the Interim Government pursued an overly rushed and ambitious reform agenda. Consultations were irregular, poorly communicated, non-transparent, and insufficient to enable meaningful stakeholder engagement. As a result, ordinances were enacted within weeks of Cabinet approval, reflecting a lack of deliberation and coherence. The outcome is a set of laws marked by procedural and structural flaws that risk undermining their effectiveness while enabling abuse in practice.
GNI is also deeply concerned by recent violence targeting political leaders, journalists, independent media outlets, and cultural institutions in Bangladesh. That such attacks occurred under the watch of the Interim Government underscore the fragility of human rights protections in the current environment. With general elections approaching, GNI calls on the Interim Government, Election Commission, political parties, and other actors to protect and respect human rights, including freedom of expression.
As the interim period draws to a close, constitutional guarantees and international human rights obligations, particularly those protecting privacy and freedom of expression, must guide both the substance and process of digital policy reform. GNI urges the next elected government to undertake a comprehensive review of these ordinances through an open, transparent, and genuinely multistakeholder process. GNI remains ready to engage constructively and offer support toward building a digital ecosystem that respects fundamental rights.
About GNI
GNI is the leading multistakeholder forum for accountability, shared learning, and collective advocacy on government and company policies and practices at the intersection of technology and human rights. Over the last several years, GNI has reviewed, commented on, and helped shape a range of “online safety” bills, data protection laws, and intermediary liability laws across several jurisdictions. Our human rights analysis and recommendations for policymakers can be found in the Content Regulation & Human Rights Policy Brief, which uses international human rights principles to analyze a wide range of legislative efforts and provides proactive guidance on how to address online safety and digital regulations in a rights-protective manner.