Authorities Issue Threat of Harsh Measures Against Propaganda Using Police's Name
In a recent development, the Police Headquarters (PHQ) in Bangladesh has issued a warning against the spreading of false propaganda using government agency letterheads. The PHQ clarified that a fabricated letter circulating on social media and online media outlets is not from any department of Bangladesh Police.
The PHQ's statement serves as a reminder to the public to be vigilant against false propaganda and misinformation. The letter in question contains misleading and unethical content, and the person named as the signatory in the fake letter is not an employee of the department mentioned in the forged document.
Under the Cyber Security Act 2023 (CSA), spreading false propaganda using government agency letterheads can be prosecuted. The law broadly covers propaganda that may include misuse of official symbols such as government letterheads in false communications.
Specifically, under Section 21 of the CSA, propaganda against the liberation war, the Father of the Nation, the national anthem, or national flag carries up to seven years imprisonment or fines up to Tk1 crore (10 million takas), with potentially higher fines (up to Tk3 crore) in repeat offenses under the older Digital Security Act (DSA), though CSA limits maximum jail time to seven years.
The CSA reforms reduce the severity of punishments compared to the DSA but keep strict penalties for false and harmful propaganda related to government and national symbols, which would include falsification or misuse of government agency letterheads to spread false information. The law also bans allegations or campaigns that can be interpreted as antigovernment propaganda, with prison penalties ranging from months up to 15 years based on other laws cited by US State Department reports.
The PHQ has threatened strict action under the law against those involved in the creation or distribution of the fake letter. However, the PHQ has not provided any details on the identity of those responsible for creating or distributing the fake letter. The PHQ continues to monitor the situation regarding the fake letter being circulated.
This legal framework reflects Bangladesh’s tightening control over digital and printed misinformation that misuses official government insignia or symbols in propaganda campaigns. The PHQ's warning against the spreading of false information using their name and letterhead remains in effect.
[1] Cyber Security Act 2023, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. [2] US Department of State, Bangladesh 2020 Human Rights Report.
The PHQ's warning against the spreading of false propaganda serves as a reminder that misuse of government agency letterheads can lead to prosecution under the Cyber Security Act 2023. Strict action will be taken against those involved in the creation or distribution of fake letters, as stated by the PHQ. General news outlets, crime-and-justice sectors, and politics stakeholders should follow the PHQ's statement and ensure the accurate dissemination of information to uphold the integrity of government agencies in Bangladesh.
