PEN Bangladesh has congratulated the newly elected government on receiving an overwhelming mandate from the people of Bangladesh to lead the country at a critical juncture in its democratic transition.
The scale of public endorsement carries both legitimacy and responsibility to revitalize Bangladesh’s struggling democratic institutions, restore public trust, and recalibrate the balance between authority and constitutional rights, PEN Bangladesh said in a statement on Tuesday.
"As the country transitions from interim administration to full democratic governance, PEN Bangladesh, the national chapter of PEN International, urges the new government to prioritize the restoration of civic freedoms, particularly the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression under Article 39 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh," the statement added.
PEN Bangladesh also expressed its deep concern over the narrowed civic space that led to the detention and persecution of writers, journalists, academics, and digital commentators. Additionally, the expansive security legislation and overarching mob violence have produced a climate of caution and self-censorship that has eroded the spirit of a constitutional democracy.
For a genuine democratic reset, PEN Bangladesh calls for immediate release of all writers, journalists, and activists detained solely for peaceful expression; a transparent and independent review of alleged gross violations of civil rights in the recent past, including misuse of digital and security laws; comprehensive reform of repressive legal provisions, particularly those criminalizing speech under broadly defined or ambiguous clauses; and clear institutional guarantees protecting media independence, artistic freedom, and digital rights.
PEN Bangladesh, true to its international charter, remains committed to defending freedom of expression, supporting writers at risk, and working constructively with democratic institutions to strengthen rights-based governance.