Global Network Initiative outlines concerns over Bangladesh’s recent digital policy reforms
The Global Network Initiative has issued a statement assessing Bangladesh’s recent digital policy reforms, focusing on how the interim government developed and adopted a series of new ordinances. The document frames these observations as contributions to an ongoing policy discussion rather than as conclusions on legal outcomes.
In a January 2026 statement, the Global Network Initiative (GNI) reviewed the process and substance of several digital ordinances adopted by the interim authorities in Bangladesh. These include changes to telecommunications law, personal data protection, national data management, and cybersecurity, all enacted within a short period toward the end of 2025.
GNI’s statement places particular emphasis on the policymaking process. It notes that consultations around the ordinances were limited in scope and duration, with draft texts not consistently made available in advance or in accessible formats. According to the statement, this compressed timetable reduced opportunities for informed public debate and stakeholder engagement, especially given the scale of the legal changes involved.
Beyond procedure, the statement also comments on the structure of the new legal framework. GNI observes that several of the ordinances retain a centralised approach to digital governance, with expanded roles for executive authorities and security agencies. It highlights provisions that grant broad investigatory and enforcement powers, alongside oversight arrangements that, in GNI’s assessment, rely heavily on executive control rather than independent institutions.
The statement further draws attention to how the different ordinances interact. It points to data localisation requirements, wide-ranging national security exceptions, and mandatory data disclosure obligations as elements that, taken together, could shape how personal data is collected, processed, and accessed by public authorities. GNI notes that these design choices may have implications for privacy, freedom of expression, and accountability, even as the reforms are presented as measures to strengthen governance and security.
Finally, the statement situates the digital reforms within Bangladesh’s wider political context, including an approaching electoral transition and recent incidents of violence affecting journalists and political actors. GNI stresses that future digital policy development would benefit from more transparent and inclusive processes, aligned with constitutional guarantees and international human rights commitments.
