The Editors’ Council in a statement on Tuesday expressed concern over the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, saying that a provision in the amended law could curtail freedom of expression and shrink the wide scope of freedom of the press.
On May 11, the interim government promulgated the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, incorporating the provision that prohibits the publication or broadcast of any statement by a proscribed organisation or in its support in any print, electronic, online and social media or in any other means and bans processions, meetings and rallies, press conferences and public speeches by any such entities, the statement said.
The following day, the government banned all kinds of activities of the Awami League.
‘The application of the provision in the ordinance may curtail people’s freedom of expression and limit the wide scope of freedom of the mass media, which is worrying and it would threaten freedom of the press,’ it said.
The Editors’ Council demanded suspension of the provision and its review.
‘It is not expected from the interim government to incorporate such a provision that provides scope of its misuse,’ said the statement signed by Editors’ Council president Mahfuz Anam and general secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud.
