Shahanur Islam, a prominent human rights lawyer and gay rights campaigner in Bangladesh received repeated death threats SMS over his mobile phone.

Shahanur told to Soja Kotha that recently on 25th August and 6th September 2022, he received separate two death threats messages along with his wife and kid over his mobile phone.

He added, on 25th October 2022 around at 10:17 pm BST, Mr. Islam received threats message in English language over his phone from an unidentified number. The message states that if you don’t stop fighting aims to establishment of homo sexual rights in BD, immediately you will be killed along with your family members brutally.

Later on 8th September 2022, he added that around at 1:07 pm BST that, he received another death threats SMS in Bengali over his mobile phone from an unidentified number. The threatening message states that do you have no fear of death? This county is only for Islam. There is no space

for homosexual people in this country. If you don’t stop to support homosexual people and continue your activities to establish rights of them, we ‘ii not take time to send you in to the hell along with your wife and kid. Still there is time, be well!”

It was known from Mr Shahanur that this is not the first time intimidation he faces. He has previously received threats, death threats, physically assaults as well as been repeatedly implicated in false and fabricated cases due to his strong advocacy against social injustice and religious extremism as well as ensuring rights of ethnic, religious and sexual (LGBT) minority people in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and JusticeMakers Bangladesh gravely concern over the recent death threats of Mr. Islam and his family members. BIHR and JusticeMakers Bangladesh urge ensuring the protection of Mr. Shahanur Islam including his all family members as well as ensure the exemplary punishment of against the culprit after a quick and impartial investigation.