A broad coalition of cartoonists, meme-makers, writers, journalists, lawyers, and activists gathered in Dhaka to protest the rising trend of filing criminal cases against online satire. The discussion—organized by Citizen Coalition and Earki—followed recent cases lodged by the DUCSU Vice President against several meme, cartoon, and satire pages, sparking national concern about the shrinking space for humor, critique, and dissent.
Speakers noted that satire, memes, and cartoons have long served as tools for challenging power, especially for young people and those without political privilege. They argued that using defamation laws and harassment charges against satirists reflects a broader attempt to police public speech and suppress criticism, echoing earlier patterns of digital repression in the country. Participants demanded withdrawal of the cases and emphasized the urgent need for legal safeguards for creators, students, and professionals who express dissent through humor.
The discussion highlighted how attempts to conflate satire with harassment or “insult” create a chilling effect: individuals afraid to comment, artists afraid to draw, and young people afraid to joke. Several speakers warned that treating satire as a punishable offense normalizes state and institutional overreach and undermines democratic culture. They emphasized that debate, disagreement, and the ability to question those in power—whether through writing, art, or humor—are core democratic practices, not threats.
Participants, including photographers, researchers, cartoonists, educators, and organizers, stressed that freedom of expression is not a luxury but a foundational right. Criminalizing memes and cartoons, they argued, silences the politically vulnerable while shielding the powerful from scrutiny. The meeting ended with a collective call for stronger protections for digital expression and a reaffirmation that satire must remain a legitimate part of public life—not a criminal offense.
Bangladesh Feminist Archives 