Legal Aspects of Citizen Journalism in Bangladesh

Abstract

What follows here is a brief write-up highlighting some key legal issues involving individuals’ freedom of expression in the internet. A citizen journalist is first and foremost, a citizen entitled to the full spectrum of constitutionally guaranteed liberty of speech and expression in all forms. Threats of severe punishment and widening the reach of legal control beyond legitimate limits hurt fundamental democratic values. One conclusion this paper makes is that the laws, if too oppressive, cannot withstand constitutional scrutiny, and are liable to be scrapped.

Keywords: Freedom of expression, Bangladesh, Citizen Journalism