A madrasa student in Bangladesh has been jailed for allegedly posting a critical comment on Facebook about the 2024 July uprising, which led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government last year. The incident took place in Tongi, near Dhaka, and has sparked fresh concerns over freedom of speech under the interim government.

According to police officials, the student was assaulted by locals and fellow students at Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasa before being handed over to the Tongi West Police Station on Tuesday evening. His head was forcibly shaved as a form of public punishment.

Officer-in-Charge Iskander Habibur Rahman confirmed that a case was filed and the student was presented in court on Wednesday, after which he was sent to jail.

Saidul Islam, General Secretary of the madrasa’s student council, claimed the handover was for “safety and law and order.” The madrasa’s principal, Hifazur Rahman, echoed this, saying further action would be taken by the authorities.

The case comes amid growing alarm over press freedom and civil liberties in Bangladesh. A collective of 88 expatriate journalists, researchers, and rights activists has condemned the “ongoing torture of journalists and suppression of free speech” under the interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.

Their joint statement accused the Yunus-led government of silencing dissent by controlling both traditional and social media platforms, calling the current trend “shameful and repulsive.”

The July uprising in 2024, driven by a student-led demand for quota reform in government jobs, led to widespread violence and the eventual ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Her departure marked a turning point, with critics warning of increased human rights abuses and authoritarianism under the current regime.