Nagorik Coalition slams Ducsu VP Shadik Kayem for his case filing against Earki, meme pages, content creators

The Nagorik Coalition has expressed deep concern over the "misuse" of defamation and harassment cases against satire and social media platforms.

In a statement issued today, the coalition noted that police had recently accepted several cases filed by Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) Vice President Abu Shadik Kayem.

The complaints targeted Earki, a political satire outlet, along with meme pages, cartoonists, and individual content creators.

"These cases amount to a direct attack on freedom of expression and violate fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution," the coalition said.

It argued that satire, cartoons, criticism, and opinion cannot be treated as crimes in a democratic society unless they incite violence. "Using the law to instill fear or suppress dissent undermines civic dignity and democratic principles," the statement added.

The coalition stressed that freedom of expression and the right to criticise are fundamental in any free society. It warned that misuse of defamation laws shrinks accountability, weakens democratic discourse, and burdens the judiciary with unnecessary cases.

Calling for immediate withdrawal of what it described as "harassing or excessively reactionary" cases, the coalition urged authorities to ensure legal protection for content creators, students, and critics.

It also urged the government to take a clear stance in favour of protecting free expression, fostering dialogue and civil remedy, and upholding constitutional principles of justice, transparency, and human rights.

The coalition criticised the Ducsu VP's move as "ill-considered, intolerant and immature," saying it harmed not only the student body but also the broader reputation of Dhaka University.