Constitution Watchdog and Bangladesh Law Alliance Propose Online Incitement and Mob Violence Prevention Act, 2026 (Draft Proposal)

DHAKA, Bangladesh, January 5, 2026 – The Constitution Watchdog (CW) and the Bangladesh Law Alliance (BLA) have jointly introduced a legislative proposal titled the "Online Incitement and Mob Violence Prevention Act, 2026 (Draft Proposal)." This framework aims to address the rising frequency of extrajudicial actions and digital provocation within the country. Drafted by a Special Drafting Committee chaired by Md. Ibrahim Khalilullah, the proposal is grounded in Article 31 and Article 32 of the Constitution of Bangladesh to protect the right to life.

Central to the draft are stringent penalties designed to deter collective violence. The Act proposes that any individual participating in mob lynching that results in the death of a victim shall face the death penalty or life imprisonment. In instances where such violence leads to grievous hurt, the penalty includes imprisonment for up to ten years. Furthermore, public servants such as police officers who willfully fail to act against contemplated violence may face dismissal or imprisonment for up to three years.

The proposal also introduces a structured mechanism for digital oversight. It suggests forming a Judicial Digital Oversight Panel, chaired by a District and Sessions Judge, to ratify provisional content removal orders issued by the BTRC within forty-eight hours. To ensure procedural integrity, the Act requires all video or audio evidence to be accompanied by a forensic report specifying Hash Values (MD5 or SHA-256). The draft explicitly prohibits the government from utilizing this Act to cause internet shutdowns.

To facilitate enforcement, the draft mandates the designation of Special Courts in every district for the trial of these specific offenses. It also requires the appointment of Nodal Officers at the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police to monitor "Mob-Prone Areas" and collaborate with local Community Oversight Committees to de-escalate tensions. This legislative project represents a proactive effort to provide a legal mechanism for addressing societal violence through structured reform.