Blogger Forhad sentenced for hurting religious sentiment under DSA

Blogger, human rights activist, and journalist Farhad Hossain Fahad is sentenced to 6 years in prison Under Digital Security Act (DSA). 

On Monday, Judge Nure Alam of the Dhaka Cyber Tribunal sentenced  Forhad to six years in prison under the DSA for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. The verdict was announced in his absence.  

According to the ruling, Farhad was found guilty under Sections 25, 28, and 31 of the Digital Security Act 2018. He was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment for each charge, totaling six years, along with a fine of 30,000 BDT.  

On April 4, 2019, screenshots of Facebook posts and comments from a profile named Farhad H Fahad spread on social media. At that time, Farhad was a second-year student of Jagannath University. Following this, the religious student group 'Islami Shashontontro Chhatra Andolon' organized protests on campus demanding his punishment.  

For several days, 'Tabligh Jamaat' and 'Islami Shashontontro Chhatra Andolon' held rallies demanding Farhad's execution. Later, Nur-e-Alam, a leader of the university’s Chhatra League, filed a case against Farhad under Digital Security Act 2018 at Kotwali Police Station near his university .

As a result, on April 11, 2019, Dhaka Kotwali police arrested Farhad. After two days of remand, he was sent to jail. He was  imprisoned for four months and then released on temporary bail.  

After his release, Farhad was attacked by religious extremists which forced him to go into hiding.

Currently, Farhad manages an online news portal named 'Anweshan News' and a blog named 'Chintar Mukti' (Freedom of Thoughts).  

During his time at Jagannath University, he was known for writing against religious extremism and advocating for human rights through Facebook and his personal blog. His writings led to legal actions and physical attacks against him.