Although death threats have probably existed since before laws were enacted to tackle them, the ploy has gathered traction in recent years due to the emergence of social media -- which often allows offenders to make threats anonymously and elude authorities.
Bangladesh has seen a string of death threats in recent years, with celebrated cricketer Shakib Al Hasan being its most recent high-profile victim.
The man, who threatened to kill Shakib, was arrested on Tuesday.
The Penal Code states that death threats are punishable by up to seven-year imprisonment in Bangladesh.
The offender may also receive a fine, in addition to or instead of imprisonment, based on the nature of the threat, according to the law.
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Section 506 of the Penal Code, addressing punishment for criminal intimidation, says: “Whoever commits the offence of criminal intimidation shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both;
“and if the threat be to cause death or grievous hurt, or to cause the destruction of any property by fire, or to cause an offence punishable with death or [imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, or to impute unchastity to a woman, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.”
In March, a Dhaka University student threatened to kill Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) Vice President Nurul Haque Nur if he remained on campus.
Earlier, in March 2018, an intelligence report sent to the home ministry stated that over 60 eminent citizens received death threats from militants for various reasons in the two years prior.
