Press Release
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Repressive Laws such as Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure-54, Anti-Terrorism Act and Cyber Security Act are a Reflection of the Colonial Oppressive System
In the face of the long political struggle of the people and the recent intense mass uprising of the students, there is a sense of relief among the people after the collapse of tyrant Hasina. Now there is a need to bring quick changes in the laws and state structures used by the Hasina government to suppress the people. Just as the public have demanded the trial of Hasina and her agents, the annulment of the laws by which she suppressed the massed and turned the country into a police state is also one of the important demands of the people. In particular, the much-criticized notorious Anti-Terrorism Act-2019 and the infamous Cyber Security Act-2023 enacted by Hasina government are still in force, sparking public dissatisfactions. Because on the basis of these laws, thousands of ulema and Islam loving people, sincere journalists, political figures, intellectuals and aware-brave citizens were victims of enforced disappearances, arrests, oppressions and tortures. The infamous Aynaghor (abduction pit) was established in the light of these laws. So, the people expect the interim government to focus on this matter soon.
It has been perceived by the people for decades that these repressive black laws are an inevitable reflection of the Western colonialist system, which has been used by the consecutive secular agent regimes that came to power rather than repealing them. For example, Section 54 of the code of Criminal Procedure-1898 vests the police with the power to randomly arrest any citizen of Bangladesh. We know that the British first made this law in 1898 to suppress the anti-British mass movement. By creating Section 54 of that Act the British regime arrested millions of people without warrants (Banglanews24, February 4, 2014). However, no ruling regime has changed this law for decades. Besides, the Anti-Terrorism Act-2009 was enacted to address the West’s global war on Islam. Through this, the agent regimes in Muslim lands have been countering the revival of the Muslim Ummah and political Islam to maintain Western hegemony. For example, Hizb ut Tahrir boldly and strongly protested the killings of the talented military officers in Pilkhana in February 2009 by Hasina government in the interests of India, and likewise protested the US-Bangladesh joint military exercise ‘Tiger Shark’ that was held in the name of security in the Bay of Bengal in October 2009. Soon after, at the instructions of her foreign masters Hasina regime banned the non-violent and intellectual political party Hizb ut Tahrir under this law, although it failed to stop Hizb ut Tahrir from intellectual and political struggle. People have also witnessed how the Digital Security Act, 2018 and the newer Cyber Security Act, 2023 have suppressed and silenced voices of sincere politicians, journalists and intellectuals.
In the Islamic (Khilafah) system the accountability of the rulers is an Islamic obligation. The Messenger ﷺ said, “Speaking the truth before tyrants is the best Jihad” (Ahmad, Tirmidhi). Therefore, such repressive laws would not exist in the Khilafah system. Also, the principle of Sharia in Islam is, “A person is innocent until proven guilty”. Therefore, Shariah law has reached the height of perfection in preserving human rights and protecting their dignity, whether the person is innocent or accused. The Messenger ﷺ said, “…then there will be end of tyranny, and then there will be Khilafah on the method of Prophethood” (Musnad Ahmad). Therefore, to get rid of the existing system of oppression forever, it is the duty of every Muslim to demand the establishment of the Khilafah on the method of Prophethood under the leadership of Hizb ut Tahrir. Allah ﷻ says,
﴿كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنْ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ﴾
“You are the best of nations, raised for the welfare of mankind; You enjoin the good, forbid the evil, and believe in Allah” [Surah Al-e-Imran: 110].
Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir / Wilayah Bangladesh