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Published : 19 Apr 2026, 09:56 PM
A recent arrest over "sharing a cartoon" has ignited sharp debate in parliament, with lawmakers questioning both the use of cyber laws and the shrinking scope of ministerial accountability.
Hasnat Abdullah, an MP from Cumilla-4 representing the National Citizen Party (NCP), raised the issue during Sunday’s session, also criticising the decline of oral question-answer sessions, which he said was undermining parliamentary oversight.
“For an effective democracy, if we cannot hold ministers accountable, where will we speak?” he said, alleging that starred questions were being tabled without allowing supplementary queries.
BNP MP AM Mahbub Uddin echoed the concern, saying the inability to raise questions deprives both lawmakers and the public of clarity on pressing issues.
Citing a recent case, Hasnat said: “We never imagined that after the election, someone would be arrested just for sharing a cartoon.”
Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) arrested content creator AM Hasan Nasim at his west Agargaon residence on Friday evening on allegations of blackmail involving Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni.
A case was later filed under Sections 25 and 27 of the Cyber Security Ordinance by a BNP activist identifying himself as the “chief whip’s supporter”.
Nasim was sent to jail on Sunday. His brother alleged he was detained without a warrant.
Responding in parliament, Chief Whip Moni said: “If someone has been arrested just for drawing or sharing a cartoon about me, I request that he be released.”
However, he added that if the suspect was involved in “cyber defamation or indecent propaganda”, the matter should be investigated.
Moni also cited prior complaints of online smear campaigns targeting him, senior leaders, and even the premier’s family, urging a thorough probe.
The deputy speaker termed the issue “very relevant”, affirming the need to preserve accountability in parliament.
