Directives to judiciary officials on using social media 

The Supreme Court administration on Sunday directed judiciary officials, including lower court judges, to refrain from using social media during office hours.

The directives also outline what judiciary officials can or cannot do when they are using social media on their own time.

The directives were issued on recommendations from the Supreme Court Special Committee for Reforms, confirmed Mohammad Saiful Rahman, special officer at the High Court division.

Defying the directives will be considered misconduct, and Bangladesh Judicial Service (Discipline) Policy 2017 along with prevailing laws, will be applicable. 

The issues to be refrained

Judiciary officials have been directed not to express and circulate any information, comment and feelings on the following issues: Conflict with national unity; religious sentiment; political discussion or philosophy; discrimination against any community; defamation against any person, institute or state; gender discrimination; creation of public dissatisfaction or resentment; comment on or express personal feelings on any case; make any negative comment or express personal feelings on any decision taken by regulatory authorities; publish any photo of the judges of the Supreme Court; share and tag others to any post, link, status and photos that are immoral, defamatory, irrelevant and unnecessary

Things to abide by

Judiciary personnel have also been asked to be cautious in choosing and sharing any post, photo, audio and video; to verify information before posting something; to be careful in exchanging personal and family information, and to maintain a judgelike attitude; not to post any unimportant status; there can be a restricted portal or group where judges can discuss ongoing cases, but not personal issues; to be responsible in using social media and to act judgelike and to adhere to state disciplines; to be very careful in sharing any information and making friends; not to make friends with someone related to any case; and to abide by usual policies for interaction among colleagues in social media.