- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Nov 24, 2023
- Event Description
A trans activist’s scheduled speech at a Bangladeshi university’s career conference was cancelled last month after anti-trans Muslim fundamentalist students threatened to boycott classes if she appeared as planned.
The France-based human rights organization, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), protested the cancellation of the appearance by Bangladeshi transgender woman Ho Chi Minh Islam at the Women’s Career Carnival.
The cancellation came under pressure from conservative student groups at North South University. JMBF believes that the discriminatory treatment of Ho Chi Minh Islam, solely because she is a transgender woman, is a blatant violation of Bangladesh’s Supreme Law Constitution and the universal human rights declared by the United Nations.
On Nov. 24-25, two organizations, Heroes for All and ISOSHAL, organized the Women’s Career Carnival at the North South University campus. The event aimed to empower women through networking, learning, and professional development. Trans woman and rights activist Ho Chi Minh Islam was scheduled to participate as a speaker in a session on Nov. 24. Her speech was intended to address the inclusion of marginalized communities in the workforce and the creation of an inclusive environment for their work. After Ho Chi Minh Islam was invited as a speaker, Muslim fundamentalist groups initiated propaganda against her through various media, including the Facebook page “Islamic for Practitioner NSU.” This misinformation campaign aimed to incite North South University students against her, spreading a misinterpretation of religion, JMBF said.
Students emailed university authorities, demanding the cancellation of her speech, claiming it promoted homosexuality. They threatened to boycott all university classes if their demands were not met. On Nov. 24, as students began protesting on the North South University campus with banners, the event’s organizers cancelled Ho Chi Minh Islam’s scheduled session, citing concerns for her safety.
Advocate Shahanur Islam, founder president of JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) and human rights lawyer, condemned the cancellation, saying that it was motivated solely because she is a transgender woman. The cancellation showed the escalating influence of reactionary fundamentalist forces in the country, he said, even though universities should be spaces for the free exchange of knowledge across diverse ideologies. JMBF asserts that the cancellation was part of the broader trend of violence, torture, and discrimination against sexual minorities in Bangladesh. Since June of this year, reactionary fundamentalist groups have been spreading misinformation to discredit Shahanur Islam and JMBF in Bangladesh through various media, including Facebook, he said.
Shahanur Islam demanded swift legal action against those spreading propaganda against sexual minorities and called for exemplary punishment. Simultaneously, the organization urged the enactment and enforcement of the Sexual Minorities Protection and Rights Act by repealing Section 377 of the Penal Code to eliminate all forms of discrimination and establish rights for sexual minorities.
Ho Chi Minh Islam is a young trans woman activist who has worked for the Bangladeshi human rights organization No Passport Voice. She founded the community-based organization Krishnachura, which focuses on providing spaces for safe dialogue to gender minorities in rural Bangladesh. She worked as a frontline health worker during the pandemic, when she was employed as the first transgender nurse at Square Hospital.
As a young leader working for social change in Bangladesh, she was recognized and trained as a fellow of Acumen Academy in 2022.
Hochemin Islam, a prominent transgender rights activist and a nurse by profession, was set to speak at a career fest on November 24 at the capital's North South University (NSU). The event, titled "Women's Career Carnival," was organised by Heroes for All and iSocial Limited, and hosted by NSU and its Career and Placement Center (CPC). As part of a panel with the International Labour Organization, Hochemin was planning to speak on how a workplace could be made inclusive for members of marginalised communities and how such disadvantaged individuals can be assimilated into the labour force equitably.
However, since the evening before the event was set to take place, calls began being exchanged between the organisers and NSU authority regarding protests from a certain section of the university's student body. The students were opposed to Hochemin coming to their university and speaking. In a formal letter to the university's vice chancellor—headed "Letter of objection and notification about Criminal activity as per Bangladesh penal code chapter 16 article 377 inside our NSU campus and the Promotion of Homosexuality (Transgenderism & LGBTQIA+) on November 24, 2023"—they attempted to "highlight that a significant majority of NSU students practice various religions, and according to Bangladesh penal code chapter-15, article-295A, it is illegal to incite outrage of religious feelings…" and urged the VC "to intervene and advise the CPC against allowing this misunderstanding to escalate, potentially causing distress among the majority religious community." The night before the event, NSU authorities went back and forth regarding whether Hochemin could be allowed to speak at the event or not. But as tensions escalated, they decided against bringing Hochemin in for the event, citing concerns regarding her safety. But the hate campaign against this inspiring person—who has struggled against hatred and hurdles all her life—still continues, with even death threats being hurled her way. Institutes of higher education are meant to be havens of free speech and thinking. In a way, it is commendable that this particular university has created an environment wherein students can confidently approach the authorities with any complaints they may have. That said, the protesting group's actions and words so far suggest a lack of knowledge of and familiarity with people from marginalised communities, and specifically individuals from the transgender community. Most concerningly, the theme of the protest betrays a kind of restrictive mentality which hinders human rights. And here, the university and the University Grants Commission (by extension) have a central role to play.
Given that the university in question is indeed a practitioner of citizens' rights as enshrined in our constitution, it must educate its students in line with the values promoted by the state. Seeing as all citizens—including Hochemin Islam—are equal before the law of the country, it is disgraceful for a university to bow to pressure from a likely misinformed/miseducated section of its vast student body. NSU boasts the privilege and responsibility of educating more than 22,000 students. Hence, it is quite incredulous that they were not confident they could have ensured the safety of just one person on their premises. In a similar vein, one cannot help but feel disturbed by what kind of discipline the students are being taught if a guest speaker could need protection from them. A better way of dealing with this situation would have been for the university higher-ups to sit down with the protesting students and hold a civil discussion with them. The NSU authorities should also have done everything in their power to ensure that Hochemin could safely speak at the event. Instead, in the eyes of many young people, this leading private university has validated an act of blatant discrimination.
In its press release regarding the situation, dated November 26, NSU failed to acknowledge the deeply concerning nature of the protesting students' agenda. The statement instead focused on clarifying that, at the time of the event, the VC was abroad and that there is currently no pro-VC instated to represent the VC in his absence. But how does that matter? Again, NSU is a university of massive scale. Whether or not Hochemin's safety could have been ensured should not be dependent on the VC's presence alone.
As an alumna of the university in question, I must voice that I feel disheartened. My four years at NSU represent a time when I was able to flourish intellectually. The pursuit of my degree itself encouraged me to think freely and critically; question everything but hinder no one. I believe now that either the institution and its values have changed drastically over the past couple of years, or that it is doing a shabbier job of becoming a world-class university. A tragedy, indeed. I hope the higher education institutions of the country—and especially the ones working intently to claim a place in the global rankings of universities every year—will perform their duty of educating students to be tolerant free thinkers. What has been done in Hochemin Islam's case is nothing but discrimination and a clear disregard of her human rights. The NSU authorities must assume responsibility for this by carrying out an investigation and taking due actions regarding those who have fuelled this hate campaign. As for long-term measures to prevent such shameful incidents from taking place at any other university, the UGC must be more involved in ensuring human rights and the practice of basic tolerance at Bangladesh's higher education institutes.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- LGBTQ+/ Non-Binary, Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Death threat, Intimidation and Threats, Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, SOGI rights
- HRD
- NGO, SOGI rights defender
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Feb 16, 2024
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Nov 30, 2023
- Event Description
Three journalists were allegedly attacked, threatened, and had their equipment damaged by former Member of Parliament (MP) Mostafizur Rahman and staff members of the ruling Awami League in Chittagong on November 30. The IFJ condemns the attack, and calls on Bangladesh’s senior political leadership to ensure that press freedom is upheld during the country’s upcoming elections.
On November 30, Chittagong Bureau of Independent Television journalist Rakib Uddin and two other journalists were allegedly attacked, with their equipment damaged. The attack occurred in front of the Chittagong deputy commissioner's office after Rakib asked Rahman if he had broken Bangladesh’s electoral code of conduct while the former politician was submitting candidacy papers.
The Dhaka Times reported the leader and his supporters allegedly threatened the journalist before assaulting him and damaging his and his colleagues’ equipment. Rakib Uddin said, “During the initial briefing when I questioned him in this regard, he became angry and attacked me abruptly. He physically assaulted me, throwing me to the ground. Furthermore, his supporters joined in and started to assault me. They broke cameras and confiscated microphones of both Independent Television and Maasranga Television.”
According to Rakib, the violence commenced after he pointed out that the leader had violated the electoral code of conduct as he was accompanied by more than five when he came to submit his nomination. On December 1, the election inquiry committee issued a show cause notice against the former politician regarding the alleged mispractice, with his alleged actions to be subject to an inquiry.
Mostafizur Rahman is a former member of parliament and Awami League candidate for Chattogram-16 (Banshkhali) constituency. In the past, Mostafizur Rahman has been in the news for ‘controversial activities, including leading processions with openly raised firearms and making disparaging remarks about senior central leaders of the party’.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jan 2, 2024
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Nov 20, 2023
- Event Description
Bangladesh authorities must immediately and impartially investigate the recent attack on journalist Md Nahid Hasan while reporting on a clash allegedly involving the student wing of the ruling Awami League and hold the perpetrators accountable, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday.
On Monday evening, about 20 to 25 men attacked Hasan, a reporter for the news website Jagonews24.com, in the capital Dhaka, according to the local press freedom group Bangladeshi Journalists in International Media, news reports, and the journalist, who spoke with CPJ.
“The beating of Bangladeshi journalist Md Nahid Hasan appears to be the latest attack on the press by supporters of the ruling Awami League,” said CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Beh Lih Yi. “Bangladesh authorities must swiftly and transparently investigate this incident and take immediate action to end reprisals against the media by ruling party affiliates. Violence against journalists must end.”
Hasan told CPJ that at around 10:30 p.m., he received information about a clash allegedly involving the Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League. The journalist called Md Rakibul Islam, a local leader of the Chhatra League, to ask about the reported attack and told him of his location in the Dhanmondi area to meet for an interview.
Around five minutes later, Tamzeed Rahman, a local leader of the Jubo League, the Awami League’s youth wing, arrived at the reporter’s location with about 20 to 25 men, and asked Hasan if he was a journalist. When Hasan confirmed this, the men grabbed him by the collar and slapped and beat him with their hands and fists until he fell to the ground, where they continued to kick and stomp on him, the journalist said.
Hasan said he attempted to show his attackers his press identification card, to which they responded, “You are a fake journalist.” The men also took his phone to check if he had filmed the clash and deleted some of his videos, including one of an arson attack on a bus, Hasan told CPJ. After about 20 minutes, the men returned his phone and left, he said.
Hasan said that bystanders told him that the Chhatra League’s Islam and the Jubo League’s Rahman attacked him.
Islam and Rahman told CPJ that they did not beat Hasan but rescued him from an attack. Hasan rejected that characterization of the attack and said that the police should be able to determine who was involved by analyzing security footage from the scene.
On Wednesday, the Chhatra League issued a statement, reviewed by CPJ, that dismissed Islam from his post for unspecified reasons.
Hasan said he sustained significant bruising all over his body and received painkillers at a local hospital. He said that he had filed a complaint at the Dhanmondi Police Station, but authorities had not opened a formal investigation as of November 22.
Habibur Rahman, Dhaka Metropolitan police commissioner, and Parvez Islam, officer-in-charge of Dhanmondi Police Station, did not respond to CPJ’s messages requesting comment.
The Chhatra League has been suspected in a number of assaults against journalists in recent months. Its members allegedly beat student journalists Abdul Alim and Abu Sayed Rony on western Bangladesh’s Rajshahi College campus on November 9, as well as student journalist Mosharrof Shah on the University of Chittagong campus on September 24.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Dec 19, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Nov 9, 2023
- Event Description
On the afternoon of November 9, Rony, a Rajshahi correspondent for the online newspaper Bangladesh Journal, and Alim, a reporter for the online news portal Rajshahi Post, were attacked by a group of individuals associated with the BCL, the student wing of ruling Awami League, at the Rajshahi College in western Bangladesh.
A BCL member, Masud Rana, requested an exception as he was not allowed to attend the take-in-course examinations after regularly missing class, but the professor refused. Following the denial, Masud and other BCL activists engaged in an argument in front of the mathematics department. The situation escalated as the activists vandalised flower tubs, and when journalists Rony and Alim attempted to document the incident, the BCL activistssnatched the mobile phones and beat them in front of the college principal. The journalists were pushed repeatedly into a wall until they lost consciousness.
Alim was treated for a blood clot in his back and extensive bruising, while Rony received medical attention for a severe head injury, with both journalists still recovering in hospital. On November 11 campus BCL leadership suspended eight members for their alleged involvement in the attack and university officials formed a committee to investigate the incident.
The IFJ has documented several similar incidents of harassment and violence against journalists by members of the BCL on other campuses in Bangladesh. On September 24, student journalist Mosharrof Shah was attacked and threatened by a group of individuals while on campus at the University of Chittagong, after reporting on a factional clash of the BCL. In August, the IFJ recorded several unprosecuted assaults on journalists involving individuals connected to the BCL.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker, Student
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Dec 19, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Nov 15, 2023
- Event Description
On 15 November 2023, labour and human rights defender Babul Hossain was arrested on charges of inciting violence and vandalising vehicles during protests which called for minimum wage hikes.
Babul Hossain is the General Secretary of the Bangladesh Garment Workers Solidarity (BGWS), a workers’ rights organisation that advocates for the rights of garment workers across Bangladesh. As the General Secretary of BGWS, Babul Hossain - who is also a garment worker by profession - mobilises workers to demand improvements in labour laws, including an increase in the minimum wage, and runs programmes to support workers and their children. The human rights defender was active in organising the recent protests for the minimun wage hike for workers in Bangladesh.
On 14 November 2023, at around 7.30pm in the evening, the human rights defender Babul Hossain went missing while he was travelling form Ashulia to Gazipur to meet with the families of those who had suffered violence at the hands of the police during the “ready made garment” (RMG) workers protests. These protests took place over the course of several days beginning in early November 2023 and occured in the context of an ongoing country-wide movement protesting human rights violations faced by RMG workers. The human rights defender told his wife at around 7.30 pm that he had boarded a bus to go to Gazipur. Since that time, the human rights defender’s phone appears to have been switched off.
On 15 November 2023, a day after Babul Hossain went missing, the labour and human rights defender was remanded into police custody by the Gazipur metropolitian magistrate court. Babul Hossain is facing false charges of inciting violence and vandalising vehicles while exercising his right to protest against the violations and harsh conditions of RMG workers in Bangladesh.
The disappearance and subsequent arrest of Babul Hossain is the latest in a series of severe violatons and reprisals faced by human rights defenders who are participating in the labour rights movement, and who seek to raise awareness about the human rights situation of RMG workers in Bangladesh.
Front Line Defenders believes that the disappearance and subsequent arrest of Babul Hossain is directly related to his work in defence of the human rights of people in Bangladesh. Front Line Defenders is seriously concerned for the physical and psychological wellbeing of the human rights defender.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Abduction/Kidnapping, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Labour rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Dec 19, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Nov 9, 2023
- Event Description
Bangladesh police fired rubber bullets and tear gas Thursday, officials and witnesses said, as violence broke out at a protest by garment workers who rejected a government-offered pay raise.
A government-appointed panel raised wages on Tuesday by 56.25 percent for the South Asian nation's 4 million garment factory workers, who are seeking a near-tripling of their monthly wage.
Bangladesh's 3,500 garment factories account for around 85 percent of its $55 billion in annual exports, supplying many of the world's top brands including Levi's, Zara and H&M.
But conditions are dire for many of the sector's four million workers, the vast majority of whom are women whose monthly pay starts at 8,300 taka ($75).
Police said violence broke out in the industrial city of Gazipur, outside the capital Dhaka, after more than 1,000 workers staged a protest on a highway to reject the panel's offer.
"The workers tried to block the road... and we had to fire tear (gas) shells and rubber bullets to disperse them," Ashok Kumar Pal Gazipur deputy police chief told an AFP reporter at the scene who witnessed the incident.
Police said workers also threw bricks and stones at officers and lit fires on roads. The workers are seeking an increase to 23,000 taka ($208) and unions representing them have rejected the panel's increase as "farcical."
Several thousand workers also left factories in Ashulia, a northern Dhaka suburb, police said.
Police have said at least three workers have been killed since the wage protests broke out in key industrial towns last week, including a 23-year-old woman shot dead on Wednesday.
At least five police officers have also been injured in the protests in which thousands have taken to the streets.
Unions say the panel's wage increase fails to match soaring prices of food, house rents and schooling and healthcare costs.
They have also accused the government and police of arresting and intimidating organizers.
"Police arrested Mohammad Jewel Miya, one of the organizers of our unions. A grass-roots leader... was also arrested," Rashedul Alam Raju, the general secretary of the Bangladesh Independent Garment Workers Federation, told AFP.
Another union leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said unions were being threatened by police to call off the protests and accept the wage offer.
"At least six grass-roots unionists have been arrested," the union leader said. There was no immediate comment from police about the arrests.
The United States has condemned violence against protesting Bangladeshi garment workers and "the criminalization of legitimate worker and trade union activities."
In a statement, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller urged the panel "to revisit the minimum wage decision to ensure that it addresses the growing economic pressures faced by workers and their families."
The Netherlands-based Clean Clothes Campaign, a textile workers' rights group, has also dismissed the new pay level as a "poverty wage."
The minimum wage is fixed by a state-appointed board that includes representatives from the manufacturers, unions and wage experts.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Labour rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Nov 24, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Oct 29, 2023
- Event Description
At least 30 journalists came under attack, while the vehicles and equipment of some of them were vandalised during a clash between the supporters of the main opposition Bangladeshi Nationalist Party and the police in the capital’s Naya Paltan area on Saturday.
The clash between the protesters and police began about 11:30am before the BNP started its scheduled grand rally in front of its party office at Naya Paltan, during which journalists were also injured.
Different journalist organisations and platforms condemned the attacks on their fellows.
The Dhaka Reporters Unity in their statement condemned the attacks on and torture of 30 journalists and also snatching of their mobile phones and valuables and damaging of their cameras and other equipment.
The DRU leadership said that such attacks are never acceptable and against the press freedom.
Protesters at Rajmoni crossing intercepted Mohammad Ali Mazed, AFP video journalist and an executive committee member of the Bangladeshi Journalists in International Media, beating him up with sticks, while he was heading towards Kakrail intersection during the clash.
The protestors also broke his camera.
Later, the BJIM in a statement said that it strongly condemns the brutal attacks on at least 19 on-duty journalists, including two of its cofounders, as major political parties staged rallies in the capital within very risky proximities on Saturday.
Brick chips were hurled at Sazzad Hossain, a freelance photographer for international media and a BJIM member. He was also stampeded allegedly by BNP activists.
New Age journalist Ahammad Foyez, Bangla Tribune’s Salman Tarek Shakil, Daily Kalbela’s Rafsan Jani, and Share Biz’s Hamidur Rahman, among others, sustained injuries.
Rafsan Jani was badly beaten and taken to hospital.
Daily Inqilab’s FA Masum told New Age that he was taking photos when two processions of BNP and ruling Awami League were about to face off in a confrontation at the time of which someone dragged him from back and started beating near the AL procession.
Masum said he could not recognise any of the attackers. A car of Jamuna Television was vandalised in Kakrail, while a
microbus of Maasranga Television carrying Noor Un Nahar Weely was attacked at Shahjahanpur in the evening.
Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists in their statement also alleged that journalists were targeted when they were filming or photographing acts of vandalism and arson during the programmes of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Nov 19, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Oct 28, 2023
- Event Description
The Bangladeshi Journalists in International Media (BJIM) strongly condemns the brutal attacks on at least 19 on-duty journalists including two of its co-founders on October 28, 2023, as three major political parties staged rallies in the capital within very risky proximities on Saturday.
Mohammad Ali Mazed, AFP Video Journalist and a BJIM Executive Committee Member, was ambushed and beaten on the head and back with sticks by several activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). His safety gear saved him from severe injuries though the miscreants broke his newsgathering kit.
Sazzad Hossain, a Freelance photographer for The Guardian, DW, and SOPA Images and a BJIM member, was also targeted with brick chips and later stampeded by some BNP activists.
New Age journalist Ahamed Fayez, Bangla Tribune’s Salman Tarek Shakil, Jobaer Ahmed, Daily Kalbela’s Rafsan Jani, Abu Saleh Musa, Rabiul Islam Rubel, Touhidul Islam Tarek, Dhaka Times’ Salekin Tarin, Kazi Ihsan Didar, Inqilab’s F A Masum, Ittefaq’s Tanvir Ahammed, Sheikh Naser, Ekushey TV’s Touhidur Rahman, Arifur Rahman, Desh Rupantor’s Arifur Rahman Rabbi, The Report’s Tahir Zaman, Share Biz’s Hamidur Rahman and Freelance journalist Maruf were also injured by attacks of miscreants within the rallies.
Rallies and demonstrations are part of democratic movements and we respect the political parties’ attempt to uphold the essence of democracy.
Similarly, it is necessary to remember that journalism is the fourth estate of democracy. Any blow towards the free press will be counted as a lesion on democracy. Such attacks on journalists are not acceptable and we demand free, fair, and swift justice for our injured colleagues.
We also officially reprimand policemen’s attacks on journalists covering the unlawful checking at Dhaka entrances in the past few evenings ahead of the rallies.
Additionally, we promise to further enhance our monitoring of journalists’ safety in Bangladesh.
We assure our colleagues, from local and international media, that we will always stand with you.
- Impact of Event
- 19
- Gender of HRD
- Man, Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Nov 19, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Sep 24, 2023
- Event Description
Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) men have assaulted Prothom Alo Chittagong University correspondent Mosharraf Shah.
Mosharraf said the BCL men have threatened him not to write reports on BCL, the student wing of the ruling Awami League, while he was being beaten up.
He was assaulted at 11:30am on Sunday in front of the faculty of arts and humanities in the campus.
Mosharraf said followers of university unit BCL president Rezaul Haque assaulted him.
Mosharraf Shah told Prothom Alo that he was going towards the vice-chancellor's office around 11:30am to collect news and comments regarding Chattra League’s clash, vandalism and beating of the chief engineer in the university on Saturday.
When he reached in front of the second arts and humanities faculty, at that time, 15 to 20 Chhatra League activists first pushed him from behind. Then they asked him if he has written any report on Chattra League or not. Some of them punched his forehead and face, kicked him in the chest and hit him on the hands.
While beating him up, Mosharraf said, those leaders and activists warned him of not writing anymore reports on Chhatra League in future. They said, “Write up anymore reports and we’ll see who comes to save you. There should be no news about Chhatra League.”
Mosharraf received first aid for his injuries at the university medical center. He was then sent to Chattogram Medical College Hospital since he had sustained injuries in the chest and hands.
Chief Medical Officer of the University Medical Center, Abu Taiyab told Prothom Alo that four stitches had to be given on Musharraf's forehead. He also has an injury on his hand. X-ray should be done. Apart from this, he has been sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital for better treatment.
Superintendent of police in Chattogram SM Shafi Ullah told Prothom Alo that they have been informed about the attack and have discussed the matter with the university administration including the proctor. Efforts are on to arrest those involved.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker, Student
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 22, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Aug 8, 2023
- Event Description
Police attacked and detained several students as a group of students took to the streets again on Tuesday demanding deferment of Higher Secondary Certificate examinations and protesting at police attacks and detention of several protesters on Monday.
Meanwhile, about the students’ demand, education minister Dipu Moni on Tuesday said there was no scope of deferring the HSC exams scheduled to start on August 17.
While briefing media at the International Mother Language Institute, the minister made the announcement amid the protests in the Dhaka city and in some other places.
She urged the protesting students to return to home and focus on their studies.
The education minister, however, said that the ICT examination will be held on 75 marks instead of 100 marks and questionnaire would be easy.
Earlier on Monday, the protesting students put blockades at Shahbagh, Nilkhet and Science Lab crossings to press their demand home.
The students claimed that they did not get sufficient time for taking exam preparations, many students are also infected by dengue.
They also demanded scrapping exam on Information, Communication and Technology subject.
Thy demanded that the HSC examinations should be postponed for two months or there should be 50 marks’ examinations instead of 100 marks per subject.
Police on Monday removed students from the Shahbgah crossing by charging batons and detaining several students.
The agitating students on Tuesday gathered TSC area of Dhaka University and later marched towards Shahbagh crossing by covering the face with black cloth.
Police stopped the students in front of Shahbagh police station and later charged batons and assaulted them.
Abdullah Al Sajib, an HSC examinee from Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, said that they had only 16 months, while students got two years for preparation in the previous years.
He said that many students were dengue infected and could not take preparation properly.
The protesters alleged that at least seven students were detained by police.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner for Ramna division Ashraf Hossain said that the most of the protesters are not students, rather they have different motive.
He said that they have detained several protesters to scrutinise their identities.
He said that several lakh students are taking preparations for HSC exams while only a few are taking to the streets to create anarchy.
‘We have interrogated some detrained and they are giving contradictory information and cannot show their academic identity,’ said the police officer.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Student
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 20, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Aug 12, 2023
- Event Description
At least 20 readymade garment workers were injured in a clash with Industrial Police yesterday.
The clash broke out after the workers blocked a road in Savar, demanding their arrears.
The workers of Pride Group's HR Textile Mills Ltd and Fashion Knit Ltd found a notice when they went to work around 9:00am, which read, "Factory authorities declared yesterday as a general holiday."
Other workers joined the crowd and tried to know the reason behind such a declaration, but to no avail. This prompted them to take to the streets.
Witnesses said they saw workers and police arguing on the Dhaka-Aricha highway in front of the factory.
At one stage, a clash broke out, they added. Police charged truncheons, lobbed teargas shells and fired rubber bullets to disperse the workers, who threw brickbats at the law enforcers.
Several types of raw materials -- including yarn -- were being removed from the factory for a few days. The workers are fearing that the factories might get closed.
Around 20 workers were injured in the clash, said a worker wishing anonymity.
The protesting workers also said their salaries for July are pending.
Referring to the police attack, Rafiqul Islam Sujon, president of Bangladesh Garments and Shilpa Shramik Federation, said several types of raw materials -- including yarn -- were being removed from the factory for a few days.
"The workers are fearing that the factories might get closed," he said.
Contacted, Afzal Hossain, assistant superintendent of police of Ashulia Industrial Police-1, said they did not charge batons or fire rubber bullets on the workers. They only lobbed tear gas canisters when the protesters threw brickbats at them.
This correspondent found the phone of factory general manager (administration) Monirul Islam switched off. When he went to the factory to talk to the authorities, the security guard told him that no officials were available there.
Shafiqul Islam, the factory's security officer, said, "No officers came to the factory [today]. Besides, I can't reach any of them over the phone. The factory will reopen tomorrow [Sunday] and the workers will be paid." Asked about the removal of raw materials from there, he said it was a rumour.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Labour rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Oct 20, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Aug 9, 2023
- Event Description
On 9 August 2023, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), an intelligence agency operating under the Bangladesh Bank, requested all banks of Bangladesh to provide account details of human rights defender Zillur Rahman and the Centre for Governance Studies.
Zillur Rahman is a journalist, human rights defender, and the host of the popular late-night talk show “Tritiyo Matra”. He is also the executive director of a Bangladesh-based civil society organisation, the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS). CGS strives to promote collaborations across academia, government, private sector, civil society, and development partners to enhance governance quality, address security imperatives, optimise resource utilisation, and support political stability and socio-economic growth through democratisation and sustainable development. CGS is a leading civil society organisation in documenting cases of human rights, especially focusing on the Digital Security Act. Before CGS, Zillur Rahman was working at leading newspapers in Bangladesh such as the Weekly Bichinta, Weekly Khaborer Kagoj, Ajker Kagoj, Weekly Kagoj, Weekly Shomoy, Weekly Laboni, Weekly Bichitra and the Daily Ittefaq. Additionally, the human rights defender also worked at the World Bank (External Affairs Department) in 2000 and for UNICEF (Water & Sanitation Department) in 2001.
The BFIU indicated that the request on 9 August 2023 was made at the request of a state agency, without disclosing which agency. This lack of transparency has led to speculation regarding the motives behind these inquiries, creating a chilling effect on CGS and other civil society organisations in Bangladesh. This is the latest in a series of incidents of harassment faced by Zillur Rahman and CGS while carrying out their legitimate human rights work.
On 27 July 2023, CGS organised an event to launch a report on the challenges faced by human rights defenders in Bangladesh. The event was attended by human rights defenders, scholars, journalists, foreign mission representatives, academics, civil society members, and others. The study exclusively focused on human rights defenders in Bangladesh to better understand the challenges they encounter in their work. The report’s findings expressed concerns about the human rights situation in Bangladesh, documenting the unsafety and obstacles faced by human rights defenders in their field.
Following the event, the keynote presenter of the report faced questions attacking their merit and credibility to research and comment on the country’s human rights situation. Some of these reports also targeted other work done by CGS as part of an ongoing smear campaign against the organisation. This smear campaign against CGS was started in response to the organisation’s legitimate human rights work, including an earlier study they published on the media landscape in Bangladesh which revealed that most media houses in Bangladesh are owned by ruling party-affiliated politicians or business people.
On 23 December 2022, police visited Zillur Rahman’s ancestral home in Shariatpur district, which drew significant criticism from journalists in the country. The police talked to the human rights defender’s relatives and neighbours, asking about his work and alleged political affiliations. The human rights defender expressed the impact of such intimidation on his social media, stating that “the visit intended to scare me, my family and neighbours, and hinder my work as a journalist and works related to the think tank CGS.”
On 23 November 2022, the National Board of Revenue initiated an investigation into Zillur Rahman and CGS through its Central Intelligence Cell regarding the organisation’s transactions and financial matters. State intelligence agencies visited the locations where CGS events were held, such as the Bay of Bengal Conversation. Intelligence agents questioned hotel employees and event partners about their activities. Meanwhile, the government organised a media boycott of coverage during the international conference. Additionally, Zillur Rahman was placed under surveillance and followed by intelligence agents.
Several CGS employees have also been repeatedly questioned by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Bangladesh Police. Meanwhile, unknown parties have repeatedly attempted to hack Zillur Rahman’s, Tritiyo Matra’s and CGS’s Facebook and Twitter pages. All these events have placed the employees of CGS under constant dread, disrupting their capacity to work.
Front Line Defenders believes that the harassment against Zillur Rahman is directly related to his legitimate human rights work. Front Line Defenders is seriously concerned for the psychological wellbeing of the human rights defender.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker, NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 16, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Sep 14, 2023
- Event Description
A Dhaka tribunal today sentenced two officials of rights body Odhikar to two years imprisonment each in an ICT Act case.
The two are Odhikar Secretary Adilur Rahman Khan and Director ASM Nasiruddin Elan.
Judge AM Julfiker Hayet of Dhaka Cyber Tribunal announced the verdict in presence of the duo, said our court correspondent from the court.
The court also fined each of them Tk 10,000, in default of which, Adilur and Elan have to serve one month in jail.
After the verdict was pronounced, Public Prosecutor Md Nazrul Islam Shamim told The Daily Star that they were not satisfied with the judgement.
They would challenge the judgement with the High Court after receiving the certified copy of the verdict, he said.
The case was filed for running "a distorted report and doctored images" about the May 5-6, 2013 police action on a Hefajat-e-Islam rally in the capital's Motijheel.
On June 10, 2013, Detective Branch (DB) of police filed a general diary with the Gulshan Police Station in this connection, which was later converted into a case.
Detectives arrested Adilur at Gulshan on August 10, 2013 shortly after filing the GD complaining that the rights body on its website ran a false report titled "Assembly of Hefajat-e Islam Bangladesh and Human Rights Violation".
The report tarnished the image of the country, its government and the law enforcement agencies, read the GD.
Odhikar's report claimed that 61 people died in the wee hours of May 6 when the law enforcers flushed several thousand Hefajat activists out of the Shapla Chattar in the capital's Motijheel. The government, however, put the number of deaths at 13.
Briefing the press at the media centre of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on August 10, 2013, Monirul Islam, the then joint commissioner of DMP, said no lethal weapons were used to drive the Hefajat men out of the Shapla Chattar.
Law enforcers only used tear gas shells, sound grenades and water cannons to disperse the Hefajat men, he added.
Referring to the violent incidents at Paltan and Motijheel areas between May 5 morning and early hours of May 6, he said a total of 13 people, including police officials, transport workers and pedestrians, died in those incidents.
On the pictures used in the Odhikar report, Monirul said though the report was based on the incidents of that night, some pictures were of those who had died earlier in the day (May 5), and some were of people who are still alive.
After probing the case, the DB on September 4 the same year pressed charges against Adilur and Elan.
Detectives on August 11, 2013 raided the Odhikar's Gulshan office and seized three laptops and two desktop computers, which were used to prepare the fake list of 61 dead victims.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Online, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Related Events
- Bangladesh: further judicial harassment against NGO staff, Bangladesh: judicial harassment against prominent HRDs continues as proceeding resumes, Bangladesh: Odhikar Director Arrested, Bangladesh: Odhikar Secretary arrested
- Date added
- Sep 14, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Sep 23, 2023
- Event Description
On 23 August 2023, academic activist and human rights defender Maidul Islam received a show cause letter from the Chittagong University concerning his Facebook posts on the civil and political situation in Bangladesh in light of the upcoming elections. The show cause letter was based on a request sent to the Vice Chancellor by the Chittagong University Teachers' Association (CUTA) in Bangladesh urging the Vice Chancellor to take legal action against the human rights defender.
Maidul Islam is an Associate Professor at the Department of Sociology, University of Chittagong (CU), Bangladesh. Currently, the human rights defender is on study leave and pursuing his PhD degree at the Department of Sociology in the University of Pittsburgh, USA. He is also an advocate for academic freedom and civil and political rights on social media and the issues of discrimination, social justice and human rights violations.
Maidul Islam is facing harassment due to his recent social media posts using the hashtag #StepDownHasina as a criticism against the authorities in Bangladesh and concerns over transparency in the upcoming elections in the country. Chittagong University is one of the fully autonomous public universities in Bangladesh and its 1973 ordinance, alongside the country’s constitution, guarantees freedom of expression. Hence, the show cause letter is of severe concern as it infringes upon the freedom of expression of academics.
On 1 August 2023, a member of the student wing of the ruling party, the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), triggered an online smear campaign against the human rights defender where 41 members of the BCL and Awami politicians across the country, including Chittagong University teachers supportive of the ruling party, were tagged in the post. On 20 August 2023, the CUTA held an emergency meeting and urged the Vice Chancellor in a letter to take legal action against Maidul Islam for criticising the government on social media.
In July 2019, Maidul Islam received a fellowship offer from Leiden University, but the Chittagong University administration never granted him education leave to go to the Netherlands and study even though the human rights defender had no legal barrier or travel restriction. 275 university teachers across the country and abroad issued a statement to the authorities in support of Maidul Islam, urging the university to support him for joining the fellowship but there was no response.
The current incident is the latest of many in the chain of harassment Maidul Islam has faced due to his human rights work and academic activism. Maidul Islam was targeted by the student wing of the ruling party and the university administration because of his social media posts in support of the 2018 quota reform movement and against the physical attack by the police and BCL on quota reform movement participants. Additionally, he also raised concerns over the university students’ poor food facilities and living conditions in university dormitories. On 23 July 2018, a leader of the student wing of the ruling party lodged a complaint against him. According to the First Information Report, the case was filed at Hathhazari police station under section 57 of the ICT Act, 2006 (the act was amended in 2013 and section 57 was repealed in 2018) referring to two of his Facebook posts as “defamatory against the Prime Minister.”
On 24 September 2018, Maidul Islam was imprisoned for 37 days on orders of a Chittagong judicial magistrate. On 7 October 2018, Chattogram court granted three-day remand against Maidul. On 9 October 2018, the High Court granted him bail for six months. However, he was not released until 30 October 2018 after some procedural delays. The university administration did not provide any support to him, rather he was temporarily dismissed from his job on 24 September 2018 immediately after the court sent him to jail. Since returning to his university residence after his job was restored, the human rights defender has received continuous threats from members of the BCL.
Maidul Islam’s family, especially his wife Rozyna Begum, has also faced severe consequences and harassment. After the ICT Act case was filed against her husband, Rozyna Begum facilitated the process of dealing with the police and the court. She was a teacher at the Chittagong College, but had to leave her job. BCL cadres flooded social media with smear campaigns against Rozyna Begum, including sexist comments against her which severely impacted her mental health. While Maidul Islam is in the US, Rozyna Begum and family are still in Bangladesh at risk of facing harassment.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Administrative Harassment, Online Attack and Harassment, Vilification
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Online, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to protect reputation
- HRD
- Academic
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 13, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Jul 10, 2023
- Event Description
Responding to the completion of one year of university student Khadijatul Kubra’s pre-trial detention under the draconian Digital Security Act (DSA) in Bangladesh, Nadia Rahman, Amnesty International’s Interim Deputy Regional Director for South Asia said:
“The year-long incarceration and repeated denial of bail to Khadija is a travesty and flagrant violation of the right to freedom of expression in Bangladesh. She should be in university, studying for her degree and not in jail waiting for her fate to be decided under a draconian law. Her continued arbitrary detention comes against the backdrop of a rapidly shrinking space for critical voices and sets a chilling precedent for anyone whose views the authorities disagree with.
"The year-long incarceration and repeated denial of bail to Khadija is a travesty and flagrant violation of the right to freedom of expression in Bangladesh," stated Nadia Rahman, Amnesty International’s Interim Deputy Regional Director for South Asia.
“Despite the government’s decision to repeal the draconian DSA, authorities continue to use the legislation to undermine human rights and persecute critics and activists. Amnesty International calls on the Bangladeshi authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Khadija and all those who are arbitrarily detained in Bangladesh solely for peacefully exercising their human rights including to freedom of expression.
“Moreover pending her release, Khadija should be provided with regular access to adequate healthcare and be held in conditions that meet international standards.”
Background: Khadijatul Kubra was a 17-year-old student of political science at Jagannath University in Dhaka, Bangladesh. She had hosted a webinar on campus politics for the social media page called “Humanity for Bangladesh” in November 2020. Almost two years later, on 27 August 2022, Khadijatul Kubra was arrested under DSA and the next day was sent to Kashimpur Jail in Dhaka. Police officers had seen a recording of the webinar on YouTube uploaded by one of the guest speakers – formerly a Bangladeshi army official now based in Canada who had made comments perceived to be critical of the Bangladeshi authorities. A case under DSA was filed for attempting to ‘deteriorate law and order’ and for ‘defaming’ the prime minister, among other charges.
Since then, Khadija’s bail applications have been rejected several times and despite having allegedly developed medical problems including kidney issues, as per the family and media reports Khadija was transferred to a ‘condemned cell’ earlier this year which is reserved for death-row convicts. On 10 July 2023, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court adjourned her bail hearing for four months, stating she should be able to take responsibility for the views expressed on her talk show.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Denial Fair Trial, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to fair trial, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Student, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 13, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Aug 21, 2023
- Event Description
On August 21, several Jahangirnagar University (JU) BCL activists arrived at a campus guest hall, allegedly chasing a student. United News of Bangladesh JU correspondent and media studies student Asif Al Amin, then sitting outside the guest hall, went to investigate the incident upon hearing screams. The activists, reportedly suspecting the journalist had been recording them, proceeded to assault Al Amin, despite him identifying himself. The attackers are allegedly affiliated with JU BCL.
The attack occurred following the broadcast of a programme commemorating the 19th anniversary of a grenade attack following a speech by current Prime Minster and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina. University leadership have denied knowledge of the event.
In a separate incident, Daily Ajker Darpan and bartabazar.com Patuakhali district correspondent Md Nayan Mridha was attacked and injured on the evening of August 21 while returning to his Press Club. At around 7:30 p.m., a group of men, allegedly members of a local BCL chapter, began to verbally abuse and then assault the journalist. The attack came over a month after the publication of an article detailing the Patuakhali BCL President's "committee business”.
Reportedly, Nayan’s attackers included Patuakhali district BCL President Md Saiful Islam's cousins, Sabbir Hossain and Al-Amin. Nayan has since lodged a complaint with the Patuakhali Sadar Police Station, with officials vowing to investigate the incident and file legal charges accordingly. Islam has denied involvement, claiming he was not present at the scene. According to the Daily Star, Mridha is undergoing medical treatment at Patuakhali Medical College Hospital.
The incident has been condemned by press freedom advocates, including South Asia Media Solidarity Network (SAMSN) member, the Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum (BMSF), who demanded authorities take immediate action against all responsible for the attacks.
University-based journalists in Bangladesh have been subject to an increasing number of attacks and threats while on campus. Earlier this year, Jashora University of Science and Technology BCL activists attacked Bangladesh Post correspondent Jahirul Islam on May 22 and Sajubar Rahman on May 20. In April, student journalist Rifat Haque and correspondent for an online news portal was assaulted after failing to make a positive report about a campus BCL leader.
The BCL is a students' political organisation in Bangladesh. It operates as the student wing of the Bangladesh Awami League, Bangladesh’s ruling party.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker, Student
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Sep 6, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Aug 14, 2023
- Event Description
Members of the hardline political group carried out the attack on the media workers after a news broadcast in front of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) in Dhaka's Shahbagh area. Reporter Sheikh Farid and RTV camera operator Ayatullah Manik were among those injured, as was Jamuna TV reporter Shawkat Manju Shanto, Mahfuzur Rahman Mithu and cinematographer Bishonath Sarker.
At approximately 11pm on August 14, Shokat Manju Shanto, a reporter with Jamuna TV, conducted a live broadcast outside the hospital where he referred to Sayeedee as a convicted war criminal. Subsequently, a group of protestors surrounded Shanto and physically abused him. Mahfuzur Rahman Mithu, a photographer who was wearing protective gear consisting of a helmet and a vest with the inscription of Jamuna TV, also encountered a hostile situation inside the hospital.
When RTV reporters arrived at the scene and exited their vehicle at approximately 11.30pm, a group of individuals surrounded them and allegedly yelled, "How dare you label our leader a war criminal? Sayedee is our leader and Islam's protector”. During the assault, the attackers stole assorted items, including a camera, a knapsack, and a wallet. According to the media outlets, all those who were hurt received medical care at hospitals, some of them experiencing severe injuries.
Sayedee, 83, died earlier that day after suffering a heart attack in a prison outside the capital Dhaka. The religious leader’s death prompted protests across the city that turned violent when police moved in to disperse demonstrators. Originally sentenced to death in 2013 for rape, murder and the persecution of Hindu Bangladeshis during the country’s war for independence in 1971, Sayadee later had his sentence reduced to “imprisonment till death”.
Sayedee was a former vice president of the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami political party representing Pirojpur. The International Crimes Tribunal 1 in February 2013 determined that he had participated in acts of violence resulting in fatalities in Pirojpur during the War of Liberation. The hardline political group still has a large following despite being banned for much of its history. The party remains controversial for supporting Bangladesh’s continued union with Pakistan during the brutal civil war.
- Impact of Event
- 2
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Aug 23, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Jul 28, 2023
- Event Description
The Bangladeshi authorities must urgently end the use of excessive force against protesters, Amnesty International said today, after verifying evidence of reports of violent attacks against protesters and opposition party leaders during a sit-in protest organized by the country’s main opposition party, on 28 and 29 July. The eyewitnesses Amnesty International spoke to said that the protests were largely peaceful prior to the police attacking them.
The Bangladesh National Party (BNP) protest, which called for a caretaker government to be appointed before the elections in January 2024, was held at various entry points to Dhaka, the capital. The protests ended with violent clashes with the police.
“The videos and images that Amnesty International has verified shed light on the human rights violations by the Bangladeshi authorities. We call on the Government of Bangladesh to guarantee strict adherence to the law by the law enforcement agencies, as well as full respect for the people’s right to exercise their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, in order to avoid further harm to people’s physical integrity and possible escalation of this crisis,” said Smriti Singh, interim Regional Director for South Asia at Amnesty International.
We call on the Government of Bangladesh to guarantee strict adherence to the law by the law enforcement agencies, as well as full respect for the people’s right to exercise their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, in order to avoid further harm to people’s physical integrity and possible escalation of this crisis.
Smriti Singh, interim Regional Director for South Asia at Amnesty International Amnesty International’s researchers and Crisis Evidence Lab reviewed 56 photos and 18 videos from the protests, and the organization also collected nine eyewitness testimonies to corroborate the findings.
Use of less lethal weapons A journalist at the Matuail protest site, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Amnesty International that the police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at the protesters, even though they were only chanting slogans and sitting on the floor.
Another eyewitness, who was with the families protesting against enforced disappearances at the BNS Center market, told Amnesty International: “The police fired tear gas at protesters… As far as I could see, the protesters didn’t have any weapons with them.”
A video posted on Twitter, and geo-located by Amnesty’s Crisis Evidence Lab, shows a crowd of people running from tear gas at the Institute of Child and Mother Health Hospital in Mutuail, Dhaka. At least five of them appear to be women. The video was filmed within the ground of the hospital, right at the entrance of one of its buildings.
Tear gas should not be deployed near or around a hospital. According to the United Nations guidelines on the use of less lethal weapons, police should minimize the incidental impact of the use of force on susceptible people, including older people, children, pregnant women and people suffering from illnesses, who may have difficulty escaping affected areas.
“Police should not use tear gas, rubber bullets on peaceful protesters. The fact that the Bangladeshi police is resorting to using tear gas inside a hospital reveals their alarming disregard for international law. The police should always bear in mind the diversity of those participating in a public assembly and their varying means of escaping or avoiding exposure to tear gas,” said Smriti Singh.
Police should not use tear gas, rubber bullets on peaceful protesters.
Unlawful use of force A videoposted to Twitter, and geolocated to Dholaikhal Road by Crisis Evidence Lab, shows police officers beating protesters with long, baton-like sticks. In the video, protesters are clearly running away from the police. The protesters have no visible weapons and do not pose any apparent threat to the police officers. The use of weapons against unarmed protestors is disproportionate and excessive.
In another portion of the same video, protesters can be seen lying on the ground while police officers continue to beat them. In another video posted on Twitter, geolocated to Dholaikhal by the Crisis Evidence Lab, at least four police officers can be seen beating senior BNP politician Gayeshwar Chandra Roy with long batons as he lays on the ground while posing no apparent threat to the police. These incidents may amount to a violation of the absolute prohibition of torture, or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
“Amnesty International has repeatedly called for restraint from law enforcement authorities in Bangladesh. The government must ensure that the police respect international human rights law and follow the United Nations Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, which clearly states that police should only resort to the use of force exceptionally when strictly necessary and proportionate in pursuit of a legitimate law enforcement purpose,” said Smriti Singh.
Groups in civil clothes attack protesters alongside police Niloufar Yasmin, a female BNP political activist who suffered injuries during the police crackdown on the protest at the BNS Center market, told Amnesty International: “When (the police) fired tear gas, we scattered. (But) then groups in civil clothes caught me and assaulted me. The police did nothing to stop them.”
According to another eyewitness, the police barricades were manned not only by law enforcement officials but also by people in civilian clothes purportedly to be the supporters of the ruling party.
Amnesty International also verified at least seven photos and two videos, including evidence shared by an eyewitness journalist, of people in civilian clothing, brandishing weapons like hammers, sticks, and clubs at the protests. The evidence includes footage of these individuals beating up protesters ‘side by side’ of police personnel or branding batons and sticks at protesters.
In media statements, the police said that law enforcement officers in plainclothes were deployed as well, though according to United Nations General Comment 37 on the right of peaceful assembly, deployment of officers in plainclothes must be strictly necessary in the circumstances and officers must never incite violence.
“It is just unacceptable for civilians to join in with the police as they attack protesters. Amnesty International also condemns the unlawful use of force on protesters. The government must ensure that all those suspected of criminal responsibility are held to account, and impartial, independent, and swift investigation is conducted against the police officers that failed to prevent such breaches of the law. It is the duty of the authorities to facilitate and protect the right to peaceful assembly,” said Smriti Singh.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of assembly, Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to Protest
- HRD
- Community-based HRD, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Aug 11, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Jun 21, 2023
- Event Description
In Bangladesh, a conservative Islamic Facebook group called Caravan and a Facebook user named “Mon Dey” have called for Bangladeshi society to ban human rights activist and lawyer Shahanur Islam, alleging that he is implementing a Western agenda to legitimize homosexuality in the country.
The proposed ban would also apply to JusticeMakers Bangladesh, an organization founded by Shahanur Islam.
Caravan, established under the slogan “Look at the world through the eyes of Islam,” called for the ban on June 21.
In a write-up titled “Homosexuality on the way to legalization in Bangladesh?”, the Facebook user operating as “Mon Dey” called on imams, khatibs (preachers), speakers, online activists, Islamic organizations, writers, and ordinary Muslims for measures to ban Shahanur Islam in Bangladesh.
The online appeal (now taken offline) also called for legislation to prevent promotion of homosexuality in Bangladesh.
Shahanur Islam maintains that the campaign is much more than merely irritating online trolling.
In the past, such posts have incited riots in Bangladesh by exploiting religious sentiments, often through fake Facebook accounts, he said. Such attacks have included physical assaults and property destruction, including burning down homes.
“As of today, the call to ban me has already received 155 likes, with 49 aggressive comments, including threats to shoot me in the head. Additionally, the post has been shared 135 times across various groups and profiles,” Shahanur said. “Every day, they continue to update their campaign with hate speech and threatening messages. I am deeply concerned that they may carry out an attack on my home, endangering the lives of my family, including my wife and child. It is crucial to urge the government to ensure the security and protection of my family.”
Homophobic and transphobic violence is a familiar problem in Bangladesh. In 2016, gay rights activists Xulhaz Mannan and Tonoy Mojumdar were murdered by Islamic extremists. Shahanur Islam himself has been repeatedly threatened with violence for his activism.
Last October, the president of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) wrote to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Oct. 19, seeking protection for him.
In the letter, the CCBE “respectfully urges Your Excellency to do everything in your power to urgently provide adequate protection to lawyer Shahanur Islam and his family, since it is believed that this continuous acts of threats and harassment are based on his legitimate activities as a human rights lawyer.”
He said about the Caravan post: “This is not an isolated incident.”
Islam said he has contacted several officials for help, including the France ambassador to Bangladesh, the human rights ambassador of France, and the LGBT right ambassador of France. Additionally, CCBE is in the process of drafting another letter to the Prime Minister, he said.
The Facebook appeal came after JusticeMakers Bangladesh launched an online petition in April calling on the president, prime minister and other officials of Bangladesh to decriminalize homosexuality by repealing Article 377 of the Bangladesh Penal Code. Under the Bangladesh constitution, the president has power to make such changes when Parliament is not in session, but the changes would need approval from Parliament when it meets again. So far, 277 people have signed the petition. Mary Lawlor, the U.N.’s Special Rapporteur for human rights defenders, has expressed support for Shahanur Islam: “Hearing disturbing news that HRD Shahanur Islam has been facing online harassment in retaliation for his work on the rights of LGBTQI+ persons in #Bangladesh & that police have attempted to collect info about him & his family. The State should protect & support HRDs.”
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Online Attack and Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to work
- HRD
- Lawyer, SOGI rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jul 27, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- May 13, 2023
- Event Description
On May 13, the Chittagong Cyber Tribunal, which adjudicates alleged cybercrime offenses in southeast Bangladesh, registered a complaint under the Digital Security Act against Yeasmean and her source in relation to the RTV broadcast reporter’s April 30 video investigation exposing alleged crimes by the conversative Islamic organization Rajarbagh Darbar Sharif and one of its leaders, Shakerul Kabir, according to news reports and a person familiar with the case, who spoke to CPJ on the condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisal.
Kabir filed the complaint accusing her of violating three sections of the Digital Security Act, according to CPJ’s review of the document. In her investigation, Yeasmean reported that Kabir has been accused of extortion, land grabbing, and violence against women.
The Digital Security Act, which criminalizes several forms of speech online, has frequently been used to target critical journalists in Bangladesh since its enactment in 2018. In March 2023, Bangladesh authorities arrested a Prothom Alo reporter and opened multiple investigations under the act into the leading newspaper’s leadership and staff, prompting United Nations human rights chief Volker Türk to reiterate his call on authorities to impose an immediate moratorium on the law.
CPJ and other rights groups also have called for the suspension of the law.
“It is appalling that Bangladeshi journalist Adhora Yeasmean has been targeted under the draconian Digital Security Act for her investigative reporting,” said Carlos Martinez de la Serna, CPJ’s program director. “Authorities must immediately drop their investigation, stop using the act against journalists, and ensure Yeasmean is not subjected to further retaliation for her work.”
Yeasmean found out about the complaint on July 8, in a call from a local police station. The next day, she learned she had been summoned for questioning on July 14 at the police Criminal Investigation Department in Chittagong’s Noakhali sub-district, about 173 kilometers (107 miles) from her home in the capital city Dhaka, according to the person who spoke to CPJ.
Yeasmean’s source, who appeared in her video investigation, is named as an accused in the complaint. Rajarbagh Darbar Sharif, led by Pir Dillur Rahman, has previously been accused of filing fabricated criminal complaints to facilitate land grabbing.
CPJ called and messaged Kabir and Muhammad Rafiqul Islam, the investigating officer in the case, but did not receive any replies.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Online
- HRD
- Media Worker, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jul 17, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Jun 25, 2023
- Event Description
On 25 June 2023, human rights defender and union leader Shahidul Islam was attacked by a group of men at the Prince Jacquard Sweaters factory in Gazipur while resolving a worker payment dispute. He died the same day from the fatal inuries sustained during the attack. Shahidul Islam was the president of the Gazipur unit of the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers’ Federation (BGIWF). He advocated for workers’ rights throughout his 25-year-long career as an organiser. As a former garment worker, Shahidul Islam noticed the lack of transparency regarding workers’ rights and began working as an organiser and later a union leader. From 1999 to 2002, he worked with the Bangladesh Independent Garment Workers’ Union Federation (BIGUF). From 2003 to 2006, the human rights defender worked for the civil society organisations Nari Uddog Kendro and Bangladesh Krishi Federation. In 2006, he joined the Bangladesh Centre for Workers’ Solidarity (BCWS) as a senior organiser and worked there until 2012. In the same year, he became a senior organiser at the BGIWF, and later became president of the Gazipur district committee. Throughout his career, Shahidul Islam successfully mobilised thousands of workers and factory-level leaders to join trade unions. He also supported thousands of workers to receive arrears and severance pay that they had been wrongfully denied by their employers. Shahidul Islam’s work and contributions to the labour movement were significant in raising awareness about the human rights situation of factory workers in Bangladesh. Shahidul Islam died after sustaining fatal injuries in an attack that took place outside the Prince Jacquard Sweaters factory in Gazipur on 25 June 2023. The human rights defender and his colleagues were resolving a dispute over salaries and the Eid bonus owed to the factory workers, when a group of men arrived and began violently beating them. Three other union leaders were severely injured in the attack which left Shahidul Islam unconsious. He was later taken to Tairunnessa Memorial Medical College Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The human rigths defender is survived by his wife and two sons. He was the sole breadwinner of his family. His wife is a former organiser battling cancer and her husband’s killing has added to their already challenging circumstances. On 26 June 2023, Kalpona Akter, president of the BGIWF, filed a case with the Tongi West Police Station, alleging that the attack was carried out on the orders of the factory owner. According to sources, the officer in charge stated that the police had already arrested the key suspect in the case, adding that the killing stemmed from a feud with another labour organisation. The killing of Shahidul Islam is indicative of the violations and unjust treatment faced by garment workers in Bangladesh. His death also reflects on the vulnerability and dangers faced by human rights defenders who raise their voices on the lack of transparency regarding workers’ rights and work to safeguard labour rights in Bangladesh. Front Line Defenders condemns the killing of human rights defender and union leader Shahidul Islam as it believes it is directly related to his work in defence of human rights, especially labour rights of people in Bangladesh. Front Line Defenders is gravely concerned about the mistreatment and threats facing human rights defenders working to improve the labour conditions of garment workers in Bangladesh. Front Line Defenders is also seriously concerned about the physical and psychological wellbeing of the human rights defender’s family and colleagues.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Killing, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to life
- HRD
- Labour rights defender
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jul 14, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Jun 14, 2023
- Event Description
Bangladesh authorities must investigate the killing of journalist Golam Rabbani Nadim and bring those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday.
At around 10 p.m. on Wednesday, June 14, a group of men ambushed Nadim, a correspondent for privately owned website Banglanews24 and broadcaster Ekattor TV, while he was traveling home on his motorcycle in the Bakshiganj area in the Jamalpur district of northern Mymensingh division, according to news reports, security footage of the incident published by Ekattor TV, and a witness account by Al Mujahid Babu, a journalist present at the scene.
A group of 15 to 20 men dragged Nadim to a dark alley, where they severely beat him and left him unconscious before he was taken to the hospital by bystanders. The journalist died the next day from excessive blood loss caused by a severe head injury.
Nadim’s family believes he was targeted in retaliation for his May 2023 series of reports for Banglanews24 about Mahmudul Alam Babu, chair of a local government unit and member of the ruling Awami League party, according to those reports. Mahmudul Alam Babu denied any involvement in the attack.
Sohel Rana, officer-in-charge of the Bakshiganj police station, said six people had been arrested in connection with the attack, Prothom Alo reported Friday.
“We condemn the killing of Bangladeshi journalist Golam Rabbani Nadim in apparent retaliation for his reporting on a local politician,” said Beh Lih Yi, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator. “Bangladesh authorities must ensure that all those involved in this attack are brought to justice and end the country’s appalling record of impunity pertaining to violence against journalists.”
Al Mujahid Babu said in his witness account that Mahmudul Alam Babu was at the scene and directing the attackers from a distance. CPJ’s calls to Mahmudul Alam Babu, who was reported to be in hiding as of Friday evening, did not connect. CPJ’s text message to Mahmudul Alam Babu did not immediately receive a response.
Nadim’s May articles concerned issues in Mahmudul Alam Babu’s marriage, including a press conference by a woman who alleged the politician secretly married her, then abused and divorced her. Nadim also posted about the allegations on Facebook.
In mid-May, Mahmudul Alam Babu filed a complaint against Nadim under the Digital Security Act for that reporting. Hours before the attack, Nadim posted on Facebook that a court had dismissed the case.
The Rapid Action Battalion, a paramilitary unit of the Bangladesh police, has joined the probe into Nadim’s death. CPJ’s calls and messages to Rana and Khandaker Al Moyeen, director of the legal and media wing of the Rapid Action Battalion, did not immediately receive a reply.
Local press groups, the Bangladeshi Journalists in International Media and the Bakshiganj Press Club, both condemned the killing, saying Nadim, who was also vice president of the Jamalpur District Online Journalists Association, was targeted due to his reporting.
Al Mujaheed Babu told CPJ via messaging app, and Raju, Nadim’s brother-in-law, told CPJ by phone separately that they were unable to immediately comment.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Killing, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to life
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Suspected state
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Non-state
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Jul 7, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- May 19, 2023
- Event Description
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls for the release of a national daily’s correspondent in a remote part of southeastern Bangladesh because of the irregularities surrounding his arrest by soldiers and subsequent detention, and the failure to produce any evidence of the grounds given for holding him – his alleged links with an armed separatist group.
Longa Khumi, the Bengali-language daily Manab Zamin’s local correspondent, has been held incommunicado ever since his arrest in a remote rural area in the southeastern district of Bandarban on 19 May by members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), an elite army unit, who handed him over to the police in the locality of Ruma on the evening of the same day.
Various allegations have been made against Khumi, including serving as an informant for the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), an armed separatist group active in the area. The police say he is being held on the basis of “confidential documents” obtained by the army in the course of a “special operation” against the KNF. Khumi has so far been unable to speak to a lawyer or anyone else.
RSF has learned that, according to several of his colleagues, Khumi was just covering the medium-intensity conflict between the KNF and the Bangladeshi army. Everything indicates that he was scapegoated after two soldiers were killed by an explosion in Ruma two days before his arrest.
According to RSF’s barometer of press freedom violations, six other journalists are currently detained arbitrarily in Bangladesh.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- May 29, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- May 4, 2023
- Event Description
A journalist was attacked in Sunamganj today for publishing a report allegedly on the irregularities at the Ashrayan Project in the district.
The journalist, Aminul Islam, is the Sunamganj District Correpsondent of Jamuna Television. The incident took place at the Lalpur area in Sunamganj town, reports our Sylhet correspondent.
He was given primary treatment at Sunamganj District Hospital, and later brought to Sylhet city for better treatment.
According to Jamuna Television's Sylhet Bureau Chief Mahbubur Rahman Ripon, Jamuna TV broadcasted a report by Aminul on the irregularities in the Ashrayan Project at Sunamganj Sadar upazila a week ago.
"Following the report, a probe body reached Sunamganj today and Aminul was summoned to the spot by the body. There, he got engaged in an altercation with Sunamganj Sadar Upazila Chairman Khairul Huda Chapol, as Chapol's men were the contractors of the project," he said.
Quoting Aminul, Ripon said, "While returning from the spot, he was attacked by Chapol's men at Lalpur area, near the upazila parishad. We will be filing a case in this regard soon."
Contacted, Khairul Huda Chapol, also the president of Sunamganj district unit of Jubo League, said, "I have no affiliation with the project but I was there as the upazila chairman. There was no altercation between us."
"He rode my car to the upazila parishad and when he was attacked, I rushed to the spot. I have also visited him at the hospital."
Mohammad Ehsan Shah, Sunamganj superintendent of Police, said, "We have been informed of the attack and police have already inspected the spot. Once we receive a formal complaint, we will take necessary legal steps."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- May 8, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Mar 15, 2023
- Event Description
On March 15, police assaulted at least nine journalists on the court’s premises in the capital city of Dhaka after clashes broke out between lawyers supporting the ruling Awami League party and the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, and police charged into the crowd swinging their batons, according to multiple news reports and five of those journalists, who spoke with CPJ.
The deputy commissioner of the Dhaka police’s Ramna division told news website Bdnews24.com later on March 15 that “journalists got caught up in the turmoil” when officers attempted to break up the unrest, and police were investigating the attacks.
On March 16, Dhaka police officials expressed regret over the incident in a meeting with local journalists but, as of March 29, have not held any of the officers involved in the attacks to account, the journalists told CPJ.
“The recent apology by the Dhaka police over officers’ attacks on at least nine Bangladeshi journalists is a welcome but insufficient response,” said Carlos Martinez de la Serna, CPJ’s program director. “Bangladeshi authorities must hold the officers who attacked journalists to account, return any equipment confiscated from reporters, and ensure that police are thoroughly trained so they can help, rather than imperil, members of the press covering newsworthy events.”
Two officers with the police Public Order Management Division slapped Zabed Akhter, a senior reporter for the privately owned broadcaster ATN News, shoved him to the ground, and kicked him as he repeatedly identified himself as a journalist and told them he suffered from a nerve condition, Akhter told CPJ by phone.
Police also pushed Jannatul Ferdous Tanvi, a senior reporter for the privately owned broadcaster Independent Television, as she tried to help him, Akhter said.
Later that day, Akhter received medical treatment for internal injuries to his waist and back at a hospital, where the two officers apologized to the journalist, Akhter said, adding that those officers had not been held to account for the incident as of March 29.
A group of 10 to 15 officers kicked and used a bamboo stick to beat Md. Humaun Kabir, a senior camera operator for the privately owned broadcaster ATN Bangla who was filming the unrest, knocking him to the ground, Kabir told CPJ by phone. Officers continued to slap him as he ran away, according to a video of the incident reviewed by CPJ. Kabir sustained a head injury for which he took painkillers.
Five or six officers beat Maruf Hasan, a reporter for the privately owned newspaper Manab Zamin, in the head and back while he identified himself as a journalist, he told CPJ via messaging app. Officers also insulted him with vulgar language and confiscated his microphone, which they had not returned as of March 29, Hasan said.
He told CPJ that he sustained painful injuries to the areas that were beaten.
About five police officers also beat Mohammad Fazlul Haque, a senior reporter for the privately owned news website Jago News, according to Haque, who told CPJ via messaging app that he had been beaten but then did not respond to additional questions seeking details.
According to those news reports and the journalists who spoke with CPJ, police also attacked Nur Mohammad, a reporter for the privately owned newspaper Ajker Patrika; Ibrahim Hossain, a camera operator for the privately owned broadcaster Boishakhi Television; Kabir Hossain, a reporter for the privately owned newspaper Kalbela; and Mehedi Hassan Dalim, a reporter for the privately owned news website The Dhaka Post.
CPJ contacted those journalists via messaging app seeking additional details but did not receive any replies.
Suvra Kanti Das, a senior photojournalist for the privately owned newspaper Prothom Alo, told CPJ by phone that he was also covering the elections when an officer grabbed him by the shirt, demanded to see his media identification card, insulted him with vulgar language, and ordered him to leave the premises, which he did.
CPJ’s calls and messages to Roy Niyati, a spokesperson for the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, did not receive any replies.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Other (e.g. undefined, organisation, community)
- Violation
- Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- May 2, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Mar 29, 2023
- Event Description
On 29 March, Bangladeshi journalist Shamsuzzaman Shams was picked up from his residence by a group in civil clothes that identified as the Criminal Investigations Department for an online article he wrote for newspaper Prothom Alo on 26 March, Bangladesh’s Independence Day, covering the rising cost of living. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison. His whereabouts were unknown for about 10 hours, after which the police stated that he was in custody and is being charged under Bangladesh’s draconian Digital Security Act. This is a blatant violation of the right to freedom of expression, and Shamsuzzaman Shams must be immediately released.
Update: Shamsuzzaman Shams was granted bail on 3 April 2023.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Abduction/Kidnapping, Enactment of repressive legislation and policies, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Online, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- May 1, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Apr 4, 2023
- Event Description
Bangladeshi journalist Ayub Meahzi has suffered grave injuries after a group of unidentified armed assailants attacked and threw him from a two-story building in Chittagong on April 4. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the brutal attack and calls on authorities to conduct an immediate and transparent inquiry into the incident.
On April 4, a group of approximately ten men armed with machetes, iron rods, and sticks stormed the second floor of a building to attack Meahzi, a Chandanaish based correspondent for Janobani and The Daily Shangu. The men then threw the journalist from the building onto the street, where he sustained significant injuries.
The Daily Starreported that Meahzi broke three ribs and suffered injuries to his head from the fall. He was admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital in a critical state and is now recovering.
According to the journalist’s family, Meahzi was attacked for reporting on illegal land clearances in the East Dohazari area, informing local authorities of the issue in the process. Chandnaish police claim to have arrested one person identified from video footage of the attack, while two of the accused have absconded.
A protest condemning Meahzi’s assault was held on April 5 at Dohajari Sadar, where members of Patia Press Club and Chandanaish Press Club addressed the crowd. Journalists, press clubs, and journalist representative organisations condemned the violence, called for an investigation into the incident, and promised further action if arrests failed to materialise.
Journalists and media workers inBangladesh continue to face significant threats of torture, harassment, and intimidation while in the field. On April 18, two journalists were assaulted in Narayanganj while gathering information at a local hospital, after recording a fight that broke out between patients. According to Amnesty International, 56 journalists in Bangladesh have been tortured, harassed, sued, intimidated, and prevented from doing their jobs in the first three months of this year.
The IFJ said: “The attack against Ayub Meahzi represents the significant danger posed to journalists working in Bangladesh. This incident is nothing short of an attempted murder and should be investigated as such. The IFJ condemns the attack and urges the Bangladeshi authorities to conduct an immediate and transparent investigation.”
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Raid, Violence (physical), Wounds and Injuries
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Online, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Media Worker
- Perpetrator-State
- Unknown
- Perpetrator-Non-State
- Unknown
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Apr 20, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Jan 22, 2023
- Event Description
A lawyer who had been missing for a week was brought to a Dhaka court by police, shown arrested, and sent to jail yesterday.
Abu Hossain Rajon was picked up on the morning of January 22, and taken to Hatirjheel Police Station, said his family members.
When the family members met Rajon on the court premises yesterday, he told them that he had been beaten up and tortured in police custody.
"He was battered from the feet up. They beat him everywhere, all over his legs and back. He said that he was taken from the Hatirjheel Police Station to the DB headquarters every day to be tortured," said Rajon's younger brother Mohiuddin Khan,.
Rajon was not taken in front of a magistrate at the court, his family alleged. He was brought to the premises, kept in the court's prison cell and taken directly to jail.
"One of our relatives had stood watch over the Hatirjheel police station the whole day [on Saturday]. He saw Rajon being taken out around 5:00pm and being brought back around 11:00pm," said Mohiuddin.
"Rajon told us that every day he was taken out for interrogation, they would go through the contact list on his phone and question him about them," said Mohiuddin.
"My family had gone [to the police station] with food and clothes, hoping to give those to him. The duty officer kept insisting that he was not there, but Rajon heard our voices and called out," the brother told this correspondent. Rajon had reportedly said, "Sir, I am here, tell them I am here!"
The family also managed to collect a photo of Rajon inside the cell at the police station. "My father is a retired police officer, and so he has connections," said Mohiuddin.
The officer-in-charge of Hatirjheel police station could not be reached for comments in spite of repeated attempts over the phone. Sub-inspector Sharmin told this newspaper that nobody named Abu Hossain Rajon was arrested.
"My brother is accused of causing violence and being involved in anti-state activities. But he is into none of that. He is a lawyer and worked as a human rights activist in our village home in Chatkhil of Noakhali," said Mohiuddin.
Mohiuddin said Rajon was picked up from in front of Ad-Deen Hospital in Moghbazar. "I spoke to the people in the area and learned this from witnesses," he said. "When we saw him at the court, he was wearing the same clothes as the day he was picked up."
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Judicial Harassment, Torture, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Right to healthy and safe environment, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Lawyer
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Feb 5, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Jan 23, 2023
- Event Description
On 23 January 2023, a Dhaka court directed Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to further investigate the cases that are being taken against woman human rights defender and journalist Rozina Islam. Rozina Islam was arrested on 17 May 2021 under sections 379 and 411 of the Penal Code and sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act for allegedly collecting sensitive government documents and taking photos of them. She was released from jail on 23 May 2021 after she was granted bail by the Dhaka Magistrate Court on the condition that she pays a fine of Tk 5000 (50 euros) and surrenders her passport to the authorities.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- (Arbitrary) Arrest and Detention, Denial Fair Trial, Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Right to fair trial, Right to liberty and security
- HRD
- Media Worker, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Judiciary
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Related Events
- Bangladesh: media worker unfairly detained faces further harassment (Update), Bangladesh: prominent media worker arrested over reporting
- Date added
- Feb 5, 2023
- Country
- Bangladesh
- Initial Date
- Jan 26, 2023
- Event Description
On 26 January 2023, woman environmental human rights defender Syeda Rizwana Hasan and her team were attacked when their vehicles were pelted with stones. The events took place on their visit to the Lake City residential area of Chattogram, a site where the hills have been razed for a housing project, impacting the local environment. Syeda Rizwana Hasan is a lawyer of the Bangladesh Supreme Court and the chief executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA). She is a member of the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide, and the Environmental Law Commission of International Unions for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Additionally, she is a member of the board of the South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE). Over the past 20 years, Syeda Rizwana Hasan has been advocating for environment protection on issues such as deforestation, pollution, unregulated ship breaking, illegal appropriation of wetlands, cutting of hills, unregulated mining, unplanned urbanization, commercial shrimp cultivation, and illegal land development in Bangladesh. In 2022, she was awarded the International Women of Courage Award by the US Department of State. On 26 January 2023 at around 12.30pm, members of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyer’s Association (BELA), along with several journalists, visited the aforementioned housing project in the Lake City residential area. Following this, they visited Kalirichara Khal, a body of water which has been filled in as part of the construction. This development has been headed by Jahirul Alam Jashim. Jashim is a local leader of the national ruling party, as well as a local Councillor of Chottogram City Corporation. While the woman environmental human rights defender was conducting this visit, a group of people started to follow the team and made attempts to intimidate them by questioning them about their reasons for being there. As Syeda Rizwana Hasan and her team proceeded towards the site, Jahurul Alam Jashim and his men appeared, brandishing sharp weapons, and obstructed them from entering the site. The woman environmental human rights defender escaped to the nearby bypass road and called the police to come to the scene. By the time they arrived, she had reached her car. However, when she subsequently made an attempt to leave the vicinity, Jahirul Alam Jashim and his men pelted the car with stones, also aiming for Sayeda Rizwana Hasan herself. The woman human rights defender has filed a complaint against Jahurul Alam Jashim, along with other individuals, at the Akbar Shah police station. However, as of yet, no action has been taken against the main accused, Jahurul Alam Jashim. This is not the first time that the woman human rights defender has been targeted for her human rights work. Those close to her have also been the subject of harassment as a result of her activism. Her husband, Abu Bakar Siddique, was abducted by unidentified men on 16 April 2014. After being held hostage for more than 20 hours, he was left blindfolded on the road miles from where he had originally been abducted.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Woman
- Violation
- Intimidation and Threats, Violence (physical)
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of expression Offline, Right to healthy and safe environment
- HRD
- Environmental rights defender, Lawyer, WHRD
- Perpetrator-State
- Government
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Date added
- Feb 5, 2023