Uwazi

Bangladesh�s military intelligence agency, the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), has established a sophisticated operation which secretly hacks the Facebook pages and profiles of opposition groups, political dissidents, student activists and journalists in apparent contravention of the country�s cybersecurity law.

Whistleblowers, who work as civilian contractors for the DGFI, provided Netra News with testimony and documentary evidence on how two special units within the agency � the Signal Intelligence Bureau (SIB) and the Public Relations Monitoring Cell (PRMC) � are engaged in hacking and other cybercrimes. Both these units rely on civilian contractors for �offensive cyber action� and are overseen by ranking military officers.

�We hack Facebook and [engage in other cybercrimes]. [DGFI handlers] set the target, we take action,� one of the whistleblowers told a Netra News editor. �Tough jobs are assigned to a team with access to sophisticated technology.�

The whistleblowers� claims are backed by recent comments from the Bangladeshi telecom and ICT minister himself, who boasted during a live interview with a TV reporter that hackers working for the government are monitoring and hacking political dissidents� Facebook profiles.

�This girl will be in trouble�

The DGFI�s involvement in hacking and other cyber crimes has long been suspected but detailed evidence of this activity came to Netra News recently when the student organisation Swatantra Jote invited Tasneem Khalil, the editor-in-chief of Netra News, to join its leader Auroni Semonti Khan in a discussion focusing on the Covid-19 epidemic and censorship in Bangladesh.

The discussion was slated to be broadcast live from the organisation�s official Facebook page on May 13th. A few hours before the Facebook Live, Khalil was alerted by an insider about a plan by the military intelligence agency�s Public Relations Monitoring Cell (PRMC) to disrupt the discussion.

�This girl will be in trouble,� the insider wrote to Khalil, and attached a screenshot of a Facebook post in which Semonti Khan was publicising her planned discussion with the journalist. The insider also told the editor-in-chief of Netra News that the DGFI considers him a �persona non grata� and anyone in Bangladesh who wants to host a Facebook Live with him will be subjected to coercive measures (major steps taken by the agency in escalating situations).

As part of the PRMC plan, online trolls were instructed by their handlers to swarm to Swatantra Jote�s official Facebook page and �take it down� with fake abuse reports. In an audio clip provided to Netra News by one of the whistleblowers, an individual can be heard saying, �Everyone must file abuse reports [to Facebook] under whatever categories � fake, violence � there are, apply everything.�

Following such mass-reporting by PRMC trolls, Facebook imposed restrictions on Swatantra Jote�s page. As administrators of the page were informed through a service notice, �Limits have been placed on [the page]. Stories from your page are not being shown in news feed.�

The trolls also flooded the page with abusive comments from hundreds of bot accounts (fake social media accounts used for automated comments and messaging).

The whistleblowers told Netra News that this is routine work for the PRMC�s online troll army. Civilian contractors, who maintain thousands of fake pages and accounts on Facebook, receive daily instructions on spreadsheets containing URLs of specific posts, pages and profiles to target. Most of these targets are critical journalists, political dissidents, and opposition figures.

�There is clear [division of labour] between teams,� one of the whistleblowers, who works as a PRMC troll, told Netra News. �This team does copyright, this team does violence, this team does comments, this team does accounts disabling.�

However, sophisticated hacking of a high-value target�s Facebook account or page is outside the remit of the PRMC and its troll army. Such tasks are handled by a special team of hackers who work for the Signal Intelligence Bureau (SIB) as civilian contractors. These hackers operate out of the DGFI headquarters inside the Dhaka Cantonment.

Netra News was provided with evidence indicating that the SIB was behind the hacking of the writer Pinaki Bhattacharya�s Facebook account in September 2018 (while he was in Bangladesh) and the hijacking of Swatantra Jote�s Facebook page in May 2020.

�Get all the Bhattacharyas�

The writer Pinaki Bhattacharya, according to the whistleblowers, has long been considered a high-value target by the DGFI, for his caustic criticism of the Awami League government. He is one of the select individuals whose Facebook profile is closely monitored by the PRMC on a �24/7 365 days� basis. The agency has also tried to muzzle his Facebook account by employing all the tools at its disposal including putting him under physical surveillance for months and asking him to appear at its headquarters for questioning. Bhattacharya left Bangladesh for exile in France in 2019.

Netra News was given a clip in which an individual boasts about the kind of access their team at the SIB has: �Take Pinaki Bhattacharya. Sirs [DGFI officers] tried everything, RAB tried. They even contacted Facebook citing a national security ground, but Facebook said there is no national security ground. [Facebook] would not give any personal information. [�] Then they [DGFI officers] said if needed get all the Bhattacharyas from the national ID card database [�] If we need [personal details of a target], we can [tap into that kind of source of] information.�

SIB hackers were finally able to hack Bhattacharya�s Facebook account in September 2018 by intercepting a two-factor verification code sent to his phone number. The whistleblowers told Netra News that only the �elite team� at the SIB has access to sophisticated technology which enables the hackers to intercept SMS messages containing verification codes for services like Facebook and WhatsApp. One of the whistleblowers said �it is very likely but not sure� that the SIB has direct access to the interception infrastructure at the National Telecommunication Monitoring Center (NTMC).

Coercive measure

According to details provided by the whistleblowers, and research by an independent forensic investigator who helped Netra News investigate the case, Swatantra Jote�s Facebook page was hijacked on May 13th after SIB hackers were able to hack into one of its administrator�s personal accounts by intercepting their two-factor verification SMS. This coercive measure was taken because the PRMC troll army could not deter the organisation from hosting the planned Facebook Live discussion between Auroni Semoti Khan and Tasneem Khalil.

One of the whistleblowers told a Netra News editor that SIB hackers maintain a �collection of hacked accounts� that they use for high-value hacking operations. These Facebook accounts belong to �regular people� who use easy-to-guess passwords. Once hacked, names on these accounts are often changed to well-known opposition figures, though the whistleblowers could not explain the exact reason for the name changes. One of the benefits of using such a hacked account, instead of registering a new account, is that these �regular people� accounts already have a large friends� list and a history � which also beats Facebook�s automated system of weeding out fake accounts.

Based on some technical details provided by a member of Swatantra Jote, an independent forensic investigator reconstructed the hacking and hijacking of the organisation�s page. According to this reconstruction, the hackers first took control of the personal account of one of the administrators of the Facebook page. They then relegated all the other administrators and editors of the page to the role of �advertiser� and added a new administrator and a new editor to the page. At least one of these two accounts � which is now named after a controversial BNP activist � belonged to a regular Facebook user who lost his account a few weeks back.

With the help of the forensic investigator, Netra News was able to track down this Facebook user in Comilla. The user, who is a businessman, told a Netra News reporter that his Facebook account was suddenly taken over by someone in early or mid April. As he could not access his account anymore, he registered a new account and moved on. He also does not know anything about Swatantra Jote, the organisation or its leaders.

On May 14th, Swatantra Jote held an online press conference and issued a press release condemning the �cyber attack� it was subjected to. A general diary (GD) has also been filed with the Boalkhali Police Station in Chittagong by a leader of the organisation in connection to this hacking incident.

After Swatantra Jote lost control of its page, Auroni Semonti Khan hosted the Facebook Live with Tasneem Khalil from her own Facebook profile in the evening of May 13th.

�Our boys and girls�

The government�s involvement in hacking is confirmed in a recent TV interview given by the Bangladeshi telecom and ICT minister, Mustafa Jabbar. The interview, broadcast live by Somoy News on April 3rd 2020, centered on actions taken by the Bangladeshi government against journalists and political dissidents (described as �conspirators� and �rumour mongers�) who criticise the government on Facebook.

�[Facebook] gives excuses in the name of so-called freedom of expression and other [rights], for which we face some inconveniences. However, we can also say that while Facebook acts as the authority, our boys and girls can identify who is doing what and take action against them without [any help from] this authority � we have been able to hack or terminate their [Facebook] IDs. It is a matter of pleasure,� the minister told a Somoy News reporter. �The people can rest assured that our team that is working, including the law enforcement agency, is extremely cautious, efficient, and technologically resourceful.�

During the interview, Somoy News showed screenshots of the Facebook profiles of two dissidents in exile and a journalist: Pinaki Bhattacharya (writer, in exile in France), Meer Zahan (former DGFI officer, in exile in France), and the Swedish-Bangladeshi journalist Tasneem Khalil (editor-in-chief of Netra News).

Pinaki Bhattacharya told Netra News that his Facebook account has been hacked thrice: on September 13th 2018, March 30th 2020, and April 2nd 2020 (the day before the interview was broadcast). Meer Zahan said his Facebook account has not been hacked in recent times. There is no indication that Tasneem Khalil�s verified Facebook profile was compromised in any way in recent years.

�Hacking related offence and punishment�

While Bangladesh�s telecom and ICT minister himself boasts about state-sponsored hacking during a live TV interview and the military intelligence agency targets dissidents, journalists and student groups for cyber attacks, hacking remains a punishable offence according to the country�s controversial cybersecurity law: the Digital Security Act of 2018.

Article 34 of the act, which is often touted by its proponents as an �anti-hacking law�, reads: �if a person commits hacking then it will be considered an offence and for this he will be sentenced to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 14 (fourteen) years or with fine not exceeding Taka 1 (one) crore or with both.�

The act also sets out specific punishments for other cyber crimes including �collecting, using identity information without permission�; �identity fraud or being in disguise�; �publishing, sending offensive, false or fear inducing data-information etc.�

According to a Bangladeshi jurist consulted by Netra News, the law does not make any exception nor does it indemnify government officials, military officers and civilian contractors who engage in hacking and other cyber crimes.

�I did not talk to any such reporter�

When Netra News contacted Mustafa Jabbar for his comment, he initially agreed to talk to Tasneem Khalil, the editor-in-chief of Netra News. In a recorded telephone conversation, Khalil asked him about the Somoy News interview and the claims about state-sponsored hackers hacking people�s Facebook accounts. Jabbar, the minister, immediately denied making any such statements.

Mustafa Jabbar: What? People working for the government are hacking IDs?

Tasneem Khalil: Yes, let me read the exact quote to you. You were telling the reporter Shuvo Khan�

Mustafa Jabbar: I did not talk to any such reporter.

Tasneem Khalil: Did you not talk to a Somoy News reporter? At your home, [broadcast] live?

Mustafa Jabbar: Did not talk.

Tasneem Khalil: I see. We actually have a video clip of the interview they broadcasted, where you are saying, �our boys and girls can identify who is doing what and take action against them without any help from this authority, we have been able to hack or terminate their IDs.� This�

Mustafa Jabbar: These things [inaudible] Somoy News interviews will be available with Somoy News. I do not wish to talk to you.

After a brief cross-talk, Mustafa Jabbar disconnected the call.

Response by Facebook

Netra News asked Facebook for its comment and received this response from a spokesperson: �We are committed to safeguarding the integrity of our services and take action on any attempt to gain unauthorized access to user accounts. We are working to secure [the Swatantra Jote page], and we encourage people to strengthen their security by turning on app-based two-factor authentication and alerts for unrecognized logins.�

�Not in my knowledge�

Netra News tried but could not reach the DGFI officers � both brigadier generals � in charge of the SIB and the PRMC. A DGFI staffer who received a call to its headquarters said �it was not in [his] knowledge� who could we talk to for an official comment about this story.

Auroni Semonti Khan of Swatantra Jote declined to comment.

On 13 May 2020, student organisation 'Swatantra Jote' was victim of online attack led by the military ahead of a social media event focussed on COVID-19 outbreak in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Rapid Action Battalion arrested cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore, writer Mushtaq Ahmed, and two others -- Didarul Islam Bhuiyan, an activist of a platform called 'Rashtrachinta', and Minhaz Mannan Emon, a businessman -- under the Digital Security Act, allegedly for making anti-government posts on Facebook, from the capital yesterday.

A team of Rab-3 handed Kishore and Mushtaq over to Ramna Police Station, Monirul Islam, officer-in-charge of the police station told The Daily Star this morning. Rab-3 also confirmed the matter.

Jamshedul Islam, investigation officer of the case, said the four were arrested from the capital's Kakrail and Lalmatia areas on charge of posting anti-government content on Facebook.

Later today, Rapid Action Battalion handed over Didarul Islam Bhuiyan and Minhaz Mannan Emon to Ramna Police Station in the evening, Jamshedul Alam, also a sub-inspector of the station, confirmed to The Daily Star.

"RAB handed over Didarul and Minhaz to police before Iftar this evening," he said.

A total 11 persons were accused in the case filed under the Digital Security Act.

Besides the four arrested, the seven others made accused in the case are: journalists Tasnim Khalil and Shahed Alam, Saer Zulkarnain, Ashiq Imran, Phillipp Schuhmacher, Shapan Wahid, and Asif Mohiuddin.

According to the case statement, a Facebook page named "I am Bangladeshi" is "trying to circulate propaganda and create confusion".

They were disseminating various misinformation, including rumours, through social media, Rab said, mentioning that the page is "creating confusion, instability and chaos among people".

According to Rab, Saer Zulkarnain, Kishore, Ashiq Imran, Phillipp Schuhmacher, Shapan Wahid and Mushtaq are the five admins who have been running the page.

Kishore was picked up from Kakrail area, while Mushtaq was picked up from his Lalmatia home yesterday, the police officer said adding that they will be produced before court today.

Kishore, a political cartoonist, posted several cartoons and posters on his Facebook account "Ami Kishore", criticising the government over the coronavirus situation. Mushtaq shared some of Kishore's cartoons on his Facebook profile.

Lipa Akhter, Mushtaq's wife, told The Daily Star, "Around five large vehicles with Rab personnel showed up at our residence in Lalmatia in the early hours of Monday, around 1:44 am. They said that they are from Rab-3. They took away Mushtaq around 3:00am and since then we had no idea where he was, or where he was being taken.

"Around 3:30am last night, two days after he was picked up, I received a call from Ramna Police Station saying that my husband is with them and that I was to come over to the police station and give him food," she added.

Mushtaq, who writes under the pen name "Michel Kumir Thakur", was critical of the "poor management in tackling the Covid-19 situation and the government" on social media.

A crocodile farmer and businessman, Mushtaq wrote a book titled "Kumir Chasher Diary" which was published in November 2018 and was working on another book.

Earlier, Didarul Bhuiyan was supposedly picked up from his house in Dhaka's North Badda yesterday evening.

A family source said some people came in two black microbuses before iftar. They were in plainclothes, but introduced themselves as Rab-3 members and said Didarul was being taken for interrogation.

Didarul is an IT specialist and owner of "ABAC Technologies", an outsourcing IT firm, located on the fifth floor of the same building. He wrote some critical posts on the state's decision to deal with coronavirus, controversy over masks and the distribution of funds and relief.

Contacted last night, Lt Col Md Sarwar-Bin-Quasem, director (Legal and Media) of Rab, told The Daily Star that an operation was underway and they would inform media after its completion.

He, however, did not disclose details.

At a press conference held live from Rashtrochinta office premises this morning, the organisation's member and a lawyer at the Supreme Court, Hasnat Qaiyyum, said, "We are requesting that Didarul be handed over to the police if there is any allegation against him. If there are no allegations, he should be released."

Didarul's family was present at the press conference.

On 5 May 2020, Didarul Bhuiyan, NGO worker, was taken into custody from home by the police without warrant, for criticising the Government handling of COVID-19 outbreak in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

A Bangladeshi journalist reported missing in March as cases were being filed against him under the Digital Security Act is now in jail after officials said they found him near the border with India.

Border guards on Sunday arrested Shafiqul Islam Kajol, 51, as he walked into Bangladesh from India with no passport. Police brought him to a court in southwestern Jessore district, on the West Bengal border, and he was sent to jail, according to multiple accounts.

Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who oversees both police and the border guards, said Monday that he was flummoxed by the case.

�Actually, I do not know where he had been for 54 days. But he was arrested from the Benapole border while coming to Bangladesh from India. We have to investigate,� Khan told BenarNews.

�I spoke with my father. I do not know where he had been for 54 days. Now, our main target is to get him out of jail,� Kajol�s son, Monorom Polok, told BenarNews.

According to his lawyer, Kajol was initially granted bail on a charge of illegal entry, but was then rearrested under Section 54 of the Bangladeshi criminal code, which allows detention of a person based on �reasonable suspicion.�

�The court granted him bail for the intrusion case. Later, police told the court they had again arrested Kajol ... as he faced three cases under the Digital Security Act in Dhaka,� lawyer Debashish Das told BenarNews.

�The judge asked police to submit an updated report on existing cases against Shafiqul by May 19, and then he will rule about it,� Das said.

Missing since early March

Kajol, a photojournalist and editor of the fortnightly magazine Pokkhokal, had been missing since March 10, a day after a lawmaker with the ruling Awami League lawmaker Saifuzzaman Shikhor filed a criminal defamation suit against him and 31 others.

Awami League activists filed two more cases against Kajol on March 10 and 11. One of them accused Kajol of committing extortion by �obtaining information illegally� and publishing �false, intimidating and defamatory� material on Facebook and Messenger, according to Amnesty International.

The Digital Security Act, which went into effect in September 2018, includes harsh prison sentences for online defamation, insulting a person�s religion and other offenses. Critics have complained that it impedes free speech.

The Committee to Protect Journalists, a press freedom advocacy group, on Sunday urged police to release Kajol and drop all charges against him.

�Bangladesh police must immediately put an end to the long ordeal of journalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol, missing for 53 days, and release him from custody,� said Steven Butler, CPJ�s Asia program coordinator.

�Kajol is a victim, not a criminal. It�s an abuse of authority to subject Kajol to detention and interrogation.�

Kajol resurfaced on World Press Freedom Day, Amnesty International noted in a separate statement. It said that while many governments were justified in combatting misinformation about COVID-19, some were using the moment �as a pretext to crack down on critical voices.�

In Bangladesh, �at least 20 journalists have been recently intimidated, assaulted or harassed by members of the ruling party, and in some cases detained and accused of criminal offenses by the police for reporting pilferage, corruption and lack of accountability in the relief distribution meant for the poor during the lockdown,� it said, citing the Forum for Freedom of Expression, Bangladesh.

Amnesty noted that BenarNews itself had been blocked since it reported on an internal U.N. memo leaked in late March estimating that Bangladesh could see as many as two million deaths as a result of the pandemic without interventions.

On 3 May 2020, Shafiqul Islam Kajol, missing media worker, was arrested and charged under the repressive Digital Act by the police as soon as he showed up after nearly two months in Jessore district, Bangladesh.

A correspondent of a private television channel came under attack and two of his colleagues were intimidated when they were collecting information about misappropriation of rice intended for distribution among the poor at Raipura in Narsingdi on Thursday evening.

After being severely beaten up, journalist AH Bhuiyan Sajal, district correspondent of SA Television, was taken to Narsingdi District Hospital and he was undergoing treatment there until Friday evening.

He had severe wounds in his head, said Asian TV reporter in Dhaka Abdul Baten, who was accompanying Sajal during the incident at about 7:30pm.

Baten went there also to look into the allegations concerning misappropriation of public rice, meant for the poor people, against Amirganj union parishad chairman Nasir Uddin Khan.

Raipur police station officer-in-charge Mohsin Kadir said that although the injured journalist did not file any case, the police had started drives to catch the union council chairman.

Abdul Baten, who witnessed the scene but escaped the attack, said that they were working on an allegation that the chairman was swindling public rice instead of distributing among the poor people during the severe food crisis triggered by public holiday declared by the government to contain virus outbreak.

�After interviewing many poor people, we phoned the chairman for his comment and asked us to go to his office,� he said.

�A soon as we reached there, his men started beating my colleague. As I wanted to stop them, they took away our camera, mobiles and money. They threatened us with dire consequences,� said Baten.

�We apologised to them for our investigation and managed to save our camera and left the place with Sajal,� he added.

Nasir Uddin Khan was called many times on Friday on his official number for his reported involvement in assaulting journalists, but he did not respond.

On 23 April 2020, AH Bhuiyan Sajal, media worker, was beaten up, two more intimidated by local government representatives while covering misappropriation of rice for distribution during COVID-19 lockdown in Narsingdi, Bangladesh.

A case was filed against two editors and two reporters under Digital Security Act for allegedly publishing news on misappropriation of government rice.

The accused were editor-in-Chief of bdnews24.com Toufique Imrose Khalidi, Jagonews24.com acting editor Mohiuddin Sarker and two local correspondents-- Shawon Amin and Rahim Shuvo, Baliadangi Upazila unit Sechhasebak League president Mominul Islam Bashani lodged the case with Baliadangi Police Station on Saturday night.

Habibul Haque Prodhan, officer-in-charge of the police station, confirmed the matter.

According to the case, local administration seized 68 sacks of rice meant for sale to the poor at Tk 10 per kilogram in Palashbari union parishad.

Upazila Food Controller Nikhil Chandra Barman filed a case with the police station in this connection on April 9.

Mominul in the case stated that accused Shawon Amin and Rahim Shuvo uploaded two posts on Facebook mentioning him as �rice thief�.

�Later, two reports were also published in bdnews24.com and Jagonews24.com involving me and my brother Aminul Islam Amin, chairman of Palashbari UP which tarnished his and the party�s reputation,� he added. Baliadangi Police Station OC Habibul Haque said the case was filed under Digital Security Act and they will investigate the matter.

On 18 April 2020, Toufique Imrose Khalidi, Mohiuddin Sarker, Shawon Amin and Rahim Shuvo, media editors, reporters were accused by a local politician under draconian law for covering irregularities on COVI-19-related relief distribution in Baliadangi Upazila, Bangladesh.

A journalist has been physically assaulted allegedly by a union parishad chairman and his associates for publishing a Facebook Live video depicting irregularity in relief distribution in Habiganj.

The incident took place yesterday at Aushkandi area under Nabiganj upazila in the district, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Biswajit Kumar confirmed to The Daily Star.

Shah Sultan Ahmed, a correspondent of daily Dainik Pratidiner Sangbad and former president of Nabiganj Journalists' Forum, reported irregularities during relief distribution by Aushkandi UP Chairman Muhibur Rahman in a Facebook Live video on Monday, reports our Sylhet correspondent quoting Mujibur Rahman, a local journalist who was present there.

Muhibur and his men swooped on Sultan yesterday afternoon when he went to report the relief distribution work for the day and beat him up with a cricket bat, leaving him severely injured. Seven other journalists also sustained injuries while trying to save him, Mujibur, who was among them, said, adding that Sultan was admitted to the Upazila Health Complex for treatment.

"After the video was posted two days ago, the chairman complained me that he was being defamed by the journalist in the video and I asked him to wait until I look into the matter. But before I talked with both parties, the chairman and his men attacked the journalist when he went to the bazaar for reporting purposes," UNO Biswajit Kumar said.

"Following the incident, the relief distribution work was halted for today (Wednesday) and will resume tomorrow, he said.

"This is a heinous crime committed by the chairman and his men, who attacked the journalist. Even if the journalist had defamed him, the matter could have been settled in a lawful manner.

"Relief packages for 100 families included 10 kg of rice in each packet, which were given to the chairman for distribution. We also added some potatoes and lentils in 40 packets and asked the chairman to give them to the extremely poor families. This difference of packets created confusion and the journalist reported the anomaly," the UNO said.

"No case has been filed in this connection yet. We will look into the matter once a complaint is lodged in this regard," said Azizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Nabiganj Police Station.

UP Chairman Muhibur Rahman could not be reached when this correspondent tried to contact him over the phone. Someone else answered the phone and said to call again later.

Motiur Rahman Munna, general secretary of Nabiganj Journalists' Forum, said, "We strongly protest such a heinous attack on a journalist and demand justice."

On Tuesday, one person was arrested in Bhola for physically assaulting a journalist after he reported about irregularities in relief distribution.

On 1 April 2020, Shah Sultan Ahmed, media worker, was severely injured, while seven other media workers were beaten by local government representatives for reporting irregularities in relief distributionin Habiganj, Bangladesh.

Bangladesh authorities should urgently locate the journalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol, who has been missing since March 10, 2020, Human Rights Watch said today. The day before he disappeared, Kajol was among those accused in a criminal case against a prominent news editor, Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, and 30 others under the draconian Digital Security Act.

On March 2, Chowdhury’s newspaper, the Manabzamin, published an article describing various lawmakers who, according to an unverified list, visited a sex trafficking ring allegedly operated out of a hotel in Dhaka by a member of the ruling Awami League party. Shifuzzaman Shikhor, a lawmaker and former aide to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, later filed the case against Chowdhury, Kajol, and others. While the newspaper did not publish any names, some people – including some of those accused by Shikhor – circulated this unverified list on Facebook, which included Shikhor’s name.

“The case of Shafiqul Islam Kajol is deeply concerning, particularly given the Bangladesh authorities’ record of abducting people and holding them in secret detention where their safety and lives are at risk,” said Brad Adams, Asia director. “The Bangladesh government should take immediate steps to locate Kajol and bring him to safety.”

Kajol’s family suspects he was abducted and has called on the authorities to help ensure his safe return. At a news conference on March 13, Kajol’s son said that his father left their home in Dhaka on his motorbike at about 3 p.m. on March 10 with two phones. When he did not return home, at around 10 p.m. they tried to call him, but both phones had been switched off. His motorbike has not been recovered.

“We don’t think my father went missing on his own,” Kajol’s son told Agence France-Presse. “We suspect he may have been abducted.” He said that the family had searched hospital emergency wards and filed a missing person complaint at the Chawkbazar police station on March 11. He also said that the family met with the Detective Branch of the police to ask if Kajol had been arrested because of the case filed against him, but officers there said that none of the 31 people named had been held.

Bangladesh authorities have a history of arbitrary detentions and forced disappearances. While some people are later released or formally taken into custody, officials have in some cases said they were killed in alleged gunfights with the security forces or in crossfires. The Bangladeshi human rights organization Odhikar reported that security forces have forcibly disappeared over 550 people over the last decade of the Awami League’s rule. Many of these victims were targeted as members of the political opposition. In recent years, however, there have been cases in which security forces have disappeared individuals in what appear to be the result of personal retribution by members of the ruling elite. Enforced disappearance – the deprivation of liberty by government officials or their agents and concealment of the fate or whereabouts of the person in custody – is prohibited under international human rights law.

The international community and Bangladesh civil society have repeatedly called on the government to repeal the vague and overly broad segments of the Digital Security Act, which facilitates abuse. While the act limits defamation charges to those that meet the requirements of criminal defamation in the penal code, it is contrary to a growing recognition that defamation should be considered a civil matter, not a crime punishable with imprisonment.

“Bangladeshis should not live in fear of abduction if they share something on Facebook,” Adams said. “The government needs to seriously investigate the many cases in which family members allege that the victim was picked up by security forces but whose whereabouts remain unknown.”

On 10 March 2020, Shafiqul Islam Kajol, media worker, went missing after being sued by a local lawmaker for an investigative article he contributed to write in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Kurigram based journalist, Ariful Islam was arrested at midnight on March 13 and sentenced within a few hours by a “mobile court”. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the imprisonment and the dubious use of mobile courts.

Bangla Tribune correspondent, Ariful Islam was arrested at around 11:45 pm for alleged possession of 450ml of liquor and 100g of hemp. Mostarima Sardar, Ariful’s wife said, “The door was broken open in the middle of the night, Ariful was beaten up and then forcefully taken away. They didn’t find any drugs.” Ariful was taken to the Kurigram deputy commissioner’s office where reports state he was tortured. Within two hours of the arrest, he was convicted and sentenced by a mobile court to one year in prison and fined BTD 50,000 (USD 560). Nazim Uddim, one of the magistrates who was said to have been present at the arrest of Ariful has denied taking part in the conviction. According to the Dhaka Tribune, the magistrate claimed they were not working that night.

Ariful’s family and members of the media accuse police of convicting Ariful in retaliation to an article he published on the misuse of power by Kurigram deputy commissioner Sultana Pervin.

Bangladesh’s mobile courts have repeatedly been challenged for being unconstitutional, often being described as a punitive task force rather than a judicial body.

Ariful’s conviction follows a similar incident on March 10 where the Digital Security Act is being used to prosecute Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, editor in chief of Manabzamin Daily, and 31 other media workers, including missing journalist Al Amin who disappeared a day after the accusation was made.

Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum (BMSF) said: “We condemn the mobile courts’ decision.” BMSF plan to protest the court decision until Ariful’s release.

The IFJ said. “The arrest and decision of the mobile court is not above judicial scrutiny and must be put before a trial to ensure due process has been followed. The mobile court is a façade seeking to undermine press freedom and journalists’ role in holding government institutions accountable. The IFJ urges authorities to immediately release Ariful and strip the archaic mobile court of their powers to arbitrarily prosecute.”

On 13 March 2020, Ariful Islam, media worker, was beaten up, tortured and detained by the police who raided his house and then tried, fined and detained over false charges by a mobile court in Kurigram, Bangladesh.

At least 15 journalists were beaten, threatened, denied access to polling stations, or had equipment broken or taken while covering the mayoral and ward councilor vote, according to reports. Separately, over 30 complaints of election irregularities, including voters being denied entry to polling stations or people standing outside centers with firearms, were reported to the Election Commission on February 1, according to the Daily Star.

The Dhaka police did not immediately respond to CPJ’s email requesting comment on the attacks on the press.

“Journalists provide an essential function in reporting on and documenting whether elections are free and fair, and they must be able to do their jobs safely,” said Aliya Iftikhar, CPJ’s senior Asia researcher. “Bangladeshi authorities must immediately investigate and bring to account all the perpetrators of violence against journalists who were covering the Dhaka elections.”

Mahabub Momtaji, a staff reporter at the Bangla newspaper Bangladesh Pratidin, and Nurul Amin, a reporter for the newspaper The Business Standard, had their phones taken and material deleted at a polling station by people whom the Daily Star described as supporters of Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student arm of the Awami League. The newspaper reported that Shahidul Islam Khan Riyad, vice president of the Dhaka South Chhatra League, held the journalists for over an hour and a half at the polling center on February 1. The journalists filed a report with the police and Riyad was suspended for breaching organizational discipline, according to news reports. The reports of the incident did not specify why the journalists were held.

The Bangladesh Chhatra League did not immediately respond to CPJ’s request for comment sent via email. CPJ was unable to locate contact information for Riyad.

On 1 February 2020, Mahabub Momtaji and Nurul Amin, journalists, were temporarily locked in a room by supporters of Awami League party while covering alleged irregularities in the city elections in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Mostafizur Rahman Sumon, a crime reporter of online news portal Agami News, was attacked while taking photos of a gathering of Awami League activists at Zafrabad in Mohammadpur this morning.

Followers of AL-backed councillor candidate Md Hossain Khokon hit him in the head with a sharp weapon and snatched away his phone, according to witnesses and fellow journalists.

Sumon was first taken to the Sikder Medical College Hospital and was later transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

He got six stitches on his head and was barely speaking, according to Inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of DMCH Police Outpost.

While visiting Banani Bidya Niketon School and College in the afternoon, Inspector General of Police Mohammad Javed Patwary called upon his officials to take necessary actions regarding the incident without delay.

Talking to reporters at the hospital, Sumon said he was attacked when he was taking photos of a procession brought out by AL followers of ward no-34 on Sadeque Khan Road in Mohammadpur’s Rayerbazar around 11:00am.

Members of the procession, who were mostly 18 to 20 years old, were carrying firearms, he said. “They pushed me on the road and beat me up as if I was a dog,” he added.

“I want to work independently. We are working for the sake of the country. We want assurance that we can do our job without resistance,” he said.

A correspondent of Press Bangla Agency (PBA) was also beaten up while covering city corporation elections at Nikunja Jan-e-Alam School around 10:30am, Ibrahim Sarker, a special correspondent of the agency, said.

PBA Special Correspondent Zisad Ikbal was attacked by Awami League activists when he entered the centre following information on irregularities, Ibrahim told The Daily Star.

The photojournalist was taken to Kurmitola Hospital in Dhaka with critical injuries, he said.

On 1 February 2020,Mostafizur Rahman Sumon and Zihad Iqbal, journalists, were beaten up and injured by Awami League party supporters while covering irregularities occurred during the city elections in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) has expressed deep concern over Rajuk’s mobile court drive yesterday that fined and ordered the rights organisation to leave its Lalmatia office in two months.

The mobile court led by Rajuk Executive Magistrate Jasmin Akhter conducted the drive at the building that houses the ASK office around noon. At one point, she went to the office and asked why the rights body was running its office in a residential area, said ASK in a statement.

ASK authorities presented all the documents of renting the office and stated that they maintained all the agreements as tenant, and that it is not a commercial organisation.

Besides, there are many business entities, schools and other social welfare-related organisations in the area, they pointed out.

Despite that, the magistrate fined ASK Tk 2 lakh and ordered them to leave the building in two months. The magistrate did not give ASK a copy of the order, despite a written request, the statement added.

“Such drive against a rights body is a matter of serious concern and worries ASK,” said Sheepa Hafiza, its executive director. She said ASK was established in 1986 and has been working tirelessly to uphold the rights of people.

“We apprehend that such drives of Rajuk will shrink the activities of rights bodies such as us,” she said.

On 14 November 2019, the human rights NGO ASK was fined and ordered to vacate its office within 2 months by the Rajuk’s mobile court in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The bruises on his body speak of the cruelty Abrar Fahad suffered. His hands, legs and back -- injury marks were everywhere.

The second-year Buet student died after he was brutally beaten allegedly by some Chhatra League leaders at a university dormitory sometime between 7:00pm Sunday and 2:30am yesterday.

The incident triggered a firestorm of protests on campuses across the country. Many took to the social media to demand justice for Abrar.

Law enforcers suspect the 22-year-old student of the university’s electrical and electronic engineering department was attacked because of one of his recent Facebook posts, which seemed critical of some recent deals with India.

They said 10 members of Buet BCL were arrested in connection with the murder.

The arrestees include the chapter’s General Secretary Mehedi Hasan Rasel and Joint Secretary Muhtasim Fuad, who is also the vice president of the university’s BCL Sher-e-Bangla Hall unit.

“They have been taken into police custody,” Chawkbazar police station Officer-in-Charge Md Sohrab Hossain told The Daily Star.

Last night, Abrar’s father Barkat Ullah filed a murder case against 19, including the arrestees, with the police station.

Talking to this newspaper, police and one of Abrar’s roommates said Abrar returned to his room at Sher-e-Bangla Hall from his home in Kushtia around 5:30pm on Sunday.

He was studying when some BCL activists of the dormitory suddenly asked him to come out after 7:00pm.

“I was also studying and I thought they were calling Abrar for something very casual. I did not suspect anything bad,” Abrar’s roommate Shaikat said.

Wishing not to be named, another student of the hall, said the BCL leaders in question instructed some third-year students of the dormitory to take Abrar to room number 2011, where he was assaulted.

Talking to reporters, Buet BCL leaders said Abrar was called for “questioning” over his alleged involvement with Shibir, student front of the Jamaat-e-Islami.

Abrar’s family members said he had nothing to do with Jamaat or Shibir.

Ashikul Islam Bitu, assistant secretary of Buet BCL, said, “Abrar was called in to room number 2011 [on the first floor].”

He said Abrar was quizzed by Mujtaba Rafid, deputy office secretary of Buet BCL; Ifty Mosharraf Shakal, social welfare secretary; and Amit Shaha, deputy law secretary, of the same unit.

Later, some fourth-year students were asked to go to the room. Buet BCL Sports Secretary Meftahul Islam Zion, Information and Research Secretary Anik Sharkar also went there, he said.

“At one stage, I left the room. Maybe, they beat him up after that. Later around 3:00am, I heard that Abrar was dead,” said Bitu.

Students found Abrar’s body on the staircase between the ground floor and the first floor around 2:30am yesterday. They called the hall provost and the resident doctor who declared him dead. The authorities then informed the matter to police, said Kamal Hossain, DMP additional deputy commissioner of Lalbagh division.

According to DB sources, Buet BCL’s Publication Affairs Secretary Ishtiaque Munna, a student of the mechanical engineering department, was the first to notice the Facebook post of Abrar.

In the post, uploaded at 5:32pm on October 5, Abrar apparently criticised some recent agreements with India on the use of Mongla Port, water sharing and gas export.

Munna told six other BCL leaders of batches 16 and 17 to take Abrar to room number 2011. Two of them, from batch 17, followed the order, the sources said.

As Abrar stepped inside the room, BCL leaders took away his mobile phone. They checked his Facebook, messenger and started interrogating him.

They slapped him and then started beating him mercilessly, said DB officials, quoting the arrestees.

Abrar eventually passed out.

Then they took him to a nearby room (room number 2005) which belonged to Munna. After Abrar’s condition worsened, they left him in the staircase, the sources said.

Some students of the hall said Mujtaba Rafid, Ifty Mosharraf Shakal and Amit Shaha live in room number 2011.

Amit, Rafid, Ifty and some third-year students were present at the room when Abrar was beaten, they said.

A Buet physician, Dr Mashuk Elahi, told reporters, “Some students of the hall called me over my phone around 3:00am. Abrar was dead by the time I found his body at the staircase.”

As the news spread, hundreds of Buet students took position in front of the provost office, demanding immediate arrest and punishment of the killers.

They alleged a video clip of a CCTV installed at the hall was missing and demanded that the footage be shown to everyone.

Later in the evening, the footage went viral. It shows three youths, believed to be Buet students, carrying Abrar on a corridor and taking him towards the staircase.

A youth is seen walking next to them while six others are behind.

It is not clear whether Abrar was dead or alive at that time.

Meanwhile, Buet authorities have formed a probe committee, comprising several teachers, to investigate the murder.

In a press release, the authorities said a general diary was filed with Chawk Bazar Police Station in connection with the murder.

Last night, Chhatra League expelled 11 leaders and activists of the Buet unit on charges of their involvement in an “unfortunate” incident.

Most of the accused were arrested.

Following autopsy, Sohel Mahmud, head of forensic medicine department at Dhaka Medical College, said, “We saw injury marks all over Abrar’s body.”

“Heavy bruises were found on his hand, legs and back,” he said, adding that it seemed the victim was beaten with objects like sticks or cricket stumps.

The student died of internal bleeding and excessive pain, he said.

Abrar’s relatives and fellow students thronged the DMC morgue.

Talking to reporters there, Abrar’s aunt Shahara Banu sobbed, “Parents sacrifice a lot to raise a child and get him or her admitted to an institution like Buet. A life cannot be lost this way. I am lost for words.

“The only thing I want now is the highest punishment to the killers.”

Abrar’s father Barkat Ullah entered the Buet campus in tears around 4:45pm. He went to the provost’s room and stayed there for more than an hour. He also went to the room where his son was tortured.

“I want justice,” he said and broke down in tears.

As the news of Abrar’s death spread, protests spread fast on campuses of Buet, Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Jagannath University and Rajshahi University.

They said they will continue protest today and will announce further demands and ultimatums.

On Dhaka University campus, students led by Ducsu Vice President Nurul Haque Nur held banners and chanted slogans on the foot of Raju Sculpture demanding justice for Abrar.

At Rajshahi University, students staged an hour-long demonstration in front of the university’s main gate, blocking Dhaka-Rajshahi highway from 1:30pm.

At Jahangirnagar University, students formed a human chain and staged demonstration protesting the killing.

Throughout the day, Buet students demonstrated for footage of the CCTVs installed at the Sher-e-Bangla Hall.

To calm them down, police officials and hall authorities said that the footage would be shown soon.

In the evening, police, however, refused to show the footage to protesters citing the ongoing investigation. This angered the protesters who tried to confine some DMP officials.

Additional policemen were called in but they could not enter the campus. The police officials finally managed to leave after the full footage was handed over to the students.

Later in the day, the protesters brought out a procession slamming the university authorities for their role.

At that time, they voiced several demands which included expulsion of the killers, their highest punishment and steps for protecting people with “different opinions”. They also demanded that killers be tried at the speedy trial tribunal.

Abrar’s first namaz-e-janaza was held at Buet Central Mosque around 10:00pm. Later, an ambulance carrying the body left for Kushtia for burial.

On 6 October 2019, Abrar Fahad, university student, was beaten to death for online criticising the Government by a group of persons supporting the ruling party in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

On 20 August 2014, human rights defenders Ms Moshrefa Mishu and Ms Jesmin Jui were temporarily detained. Ms Moshrefa Mishu is the President of the Garments Sromik Oikko, also known as the Garment Workers Unity Forum (GWUF). Ms Jesmin Jui is an organiser of the GWUF. Police detained the two human rights defender at around 3:30pm on 20 August 2014 as they were travelling to attend a rally organised by workers near Hossain Market at Badda, Dhaka. Hossain Market houses three garment factories that form part of the Tuba Group. On 18 August 2014, the authorities placed a notice outside the offices of five Tuba Group factories whose workers were on hunger strike between 28 July 2014 and 7 August 2014. The strikers had been demanding three months of unpaid wages and festival bonuses. The notices stated that the five factories would remain closed due to ongoing unrest regarding payment of the workers' wages. Moshrefa Mishu and Jesmin Jui were on their way to attend a rally on 20 August 2014, which was organised to demand the reopening of the Tuba Group factories, when they were arrested and held in Badda police station for three hours. At around 6.30pm, Moshrefa Mishu and Jesmin Jui were taken to the Office of the Detective Branch (DB) on Mintoo Road in Dhaka and were released at around 7:30 pm.

On 20 August 2014, human rights defenders Ms Moshrefa Mishu and Ms Jesmin Jui were temporarily detained as they were traveling to attend a rally. Ms Moshrefa Mishu is the President of the Garments Sromik Oikko, also known as the Garment Workers Unity Forum (GWUF) and Ms Jesmin Jui is an organiser for the same group. They were released later in the day.

The Bangladesh government wants to quash human rights activism. The cabinet has approved the "Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulations Bill, 2014", which will likely become law soon. The Bill empowers bureaucrats to decide the fate of NGOs and voluntary activities. All individuals or collectives, from NGO's to volunteer groups, receiving foreign funds for implementing projects will be under constant surveillance under this law. The law will usher even more arbitrary executive actions in Bangladesh. The Bill, in its current form, empowers bureaucrats to grant registration to NGO's on the basis of 'satisfaction' and suspend, cancel, or disband registration for alleged 'irregularities' in any project implemented by the NGO. There is no scope for challenging the government's decision before any court. On the other hand, the government will be able appoint administrators to sue persons linked to targeted entities. The Secretary to the Office of the Prime Minister will decide the 'appeal' of an aggrieved entity within 30 days. The decision of the Secretary will be final. Section 19 takes the cake. "For the fulfilling the purpose of this law, the government, by Gazette Notification, can promulgate rules: provided that unless the rules are made, the government, when necessary, by general or special orders, in compliance with this law, can take any action and can execute any order under this law", reads the section. It leaves no doubt about the NGO purge that awaits Bangladesh. To achieve its ends, the Bill seeks to attribute all related power to the Director General (DG) of the NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB), a wing under the Office of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. The entire set of executive administrative officers - from the Upazilla Nirbahi Officer (UNO), the chief executive officer at the sub-district level, to the regional Divisional Commissioner, will be given the authority to inspect, monitor, and evaluate the activities of NGOs. These executive officers will be empowered to visit NGO offices from time to time and conduct monthly coordination meetings for evaluating activities. Big Brother is set to enter NGOAB, which has so far been ruled by corruption and politicisation, being as it is a part of the state apparatus. The Prime Minister's schizophrenic desires, 'save this one' and 'off with that head', will be honoured by bureaucrats under this law. As it is, the government and the judiciary, which is just another tool in the hands of the government, have been constantly harassing local and international human rights defenders, organisations, and professionals. Now bureaucrats will join the party. The patterns of recent harassment indicate that this law will be both used and abused against human rights organisations. Those reluctant to compromise with the regime will be crushed. Those with allegiance to the regime will be further trained to hit the right tune when more gross rights violations occur. The little knowledge creation in Bangladesh will be restricted further, as the Bill seeks to ban foreign funding even for autonomous bodies, such as universities. The Bill has elicited a curious response in Bangladesh. Certain 'elite' members of civil society in Bangladesh are aggrieved about the inclusion of individuals under the control of the NGOAB in the Bill, as this will, apparently, hurt their lucrative consultancies. However, the repression the law will unleash across the nation appears to be beyond comprehension.

A bill granting bureaucrats broad powers to refuse registration to or shut down an NGO based not only on audits but on project evaluation is likely to become law, having been approved by the Cabinet in Bangladesh. Under the guise of ensuring transparency, the Foreign Grants Regulation Act 2014 will grant the government the authority to significantly meddle in the affairs of NGOs because of its broad phrasing, which leaves a very large amount of room open for interpretation. The bill would also restrict access to foreign funding by individuals. It has been criticised by civil society as unnecessary, and an excuse for the government to exert control over the activities of NGOs.

Daily Star Report: Md Nur Khan, a director of rights body Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), narrowly escaped an abduction attempt while emerging from his Lalmatia office in the capital this afternoon. The latest development has created more panic among the people already reeling from a wave of abductions. Talking to The Daily Star, he said some six to seven youths aged between 28 and 30 began following him as soon as he got out of his office around 5:10pm. Nur Khan added that the youths in a white microbus prevented his rickshaw just yards away of his office. He said he somehow managed to return to his office as the youths were getting out of the vehicle to drag him into it. "A group had been following me since the last month," Noor said, adding some people even went to his office to get information about his movements. The rights activist said he filed a general diary with Mohammadpur Police Station on April 20 in this regard. A sense of insecurity has been prevailing in the country since the abduction and killing of seven people including Narayanganj city panel mayor Nazrul Islam and senior lawyer Chandan Sarker late last month. ______________________________ FORUM-ASIA Urgent Alert Dear Ms. Sekaggya, Mr. Kiai and Mr. La Rue, We urgently want to inform you about the abduction attempt of Human Rights Defender, Mr. Nur Khan in Bangladesh. Nur Khan is the Director (investigation) of Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), the leading Human Rights organization in Bangladesh (www.askbd.org). On 15 May at around 5.10pm Noor Khan left ASK office (7/17, Block B, Lalmatia, Dhaka 1207). He got a rikshawa(manually paddled three wheeler) with another colleague and were just about few yards away from the office when a white micro bus obstructed his rickshawa. Being suspicious, Nur Khan quickly got down from the rickshawa and ran back to ASK office. His colleague noticed 5/6 people aged around 30 inside the micro bus. Mr. Nur Khan is a prominent Human Rights Defender. Along with his organization, he was always very vocal against the Human Rights violations by the Law enforcement agencies. Recent time he observed someone always following him in a motorbike and even coming to the office inquiring about his movement. On sensing insecurity earlier on 20 April Nur Khan filed a General Diary with Mohammadpur Police Station (No 1557 of 20/04/2014, attached). After today's incident, he has filed another GD (No 1250 of 15/05/2014, attached) The incident has already been reported in the online edition local media (The Daily Star Bangladesh We request your urgent intervention into the case. We will keep you posted with latest developments. Thanks in advance for your urgent intervention.

On 15 May 2014, Mohammad Nur Khan, the director of investigation with Ain O Salish Kendra, was the victim of an attempted abduction near his Dhaka office. Mr. Khan has recently been the target of explicit and implicit threats due to his work campaigning against enforced disappearances. He has regularly been followed by unidentified persons by motorbike, and has been receiving threatening phone calls. Also people came to his office to enquire about his movements. Mr. Khan has now filed two police reports related to these threats.

In January Mohammad Shamsuddin, the person who drives the car belonging to Saira Rahman Khan, the wife of Adilur Rahman Khan, was called up by a man who said he was a police of the Detective Branch. He knew Shamsuddin's name and told him that he must give information regarding Adilur Rahman Khan to the DB police whenever they asked for it. Shamsuddin said he did not work for Adilur Rahman Khan, but for his wife; and thus did not know where "sir' went, so he was unable to provide information. The caller became angry and began threatening Shamsuddin with dire consequences if he did not cooperate. On 5 March, at approximately 7:45 in the evening, Shamsuddin was picked up from near his home and taken to Banani Police Station, where he was put in handcuffs and beaten on his knees, arms and back with a heavy wooden ruler by the police, who demanded Tk. 10,000 from him. His family paid Tk. 5000. We came to learn of his arrest from his brother-in-law at 8:00 the next morning, after family members had gone to the Banani Police Station to see him. When they got there, he was already in a police van waiting to be taken before the Magistrate. He had been charged under the Drugs Act, allegedly for possession of ganja. Odhikar arranged for a lawyer to represent him and informed his family. Advocate Shamsuzzaman asked for bail, opposing the 5-day remand that the police sought. The Magistrate sent Shamsuddin to Dhaka Central Jail without granting bail or remand. On Thursday, 13 March, he was freed on bail. On 13 March, Adilur Rahman Khan was taking his mother for a check up to Square Hospital located in the central part of Dhaka City. When the family driver, Milon (who is in charge of Adilur Rahman Khan's father's car) parked the car and sat in a nearby furniture shop, two men approached him and called him by his name. They said they were from the Detective Branch of Police and one showed him an ID card. They had followed the car since it left the house. They told Milon that he had to give them information about Adil's daily schedule and where he went every day. Milon replied that he could not do so as he worked for Adil's father and other family members only. The men then casually asked about Shamsuddin and whether he was "out yet'. Milon feigned ignorance and told them that he only knew that Shamsuddin was on leave. The men then told him that they knew that Adilur Rahman Khan was helping Shamsuddin get and had arranged for his lawyer. They also made Milon give them his cell number and told his they would be in touch. On 13 March an Audit Officer from the NGO Affairs Bureau paid a visit to Odhikar to carry out further investigation into Odhikar's projects. He told Odhikar in confidence that he was told to spend as much time as possible in the Odhikar office to dig out problems; since his earlier reports did not satisfy his superiors. He came to the Odhikar office at 11:00 am and left at 6:00 pm. He said he would return again. It must be noted here that fifty percent of the funds for Odhikar's EU-funded and EKN-funded projects have not been cleared by the NGO Affairs Bureau. The Organization will not be able to pay its current staff after March 2014. Six staff have already left Odhikar due to financial and security reasons. Funds Frozen Since the NGO Affairs Bureau (under the Prime Minister's Office) has barred Odhikar from receiving funds, Odhikar staff did not receive their salaries in April 2014. They have been given a basic amount of payment from Odhikar's reserve funds. The situation will be the same in May. Staff Intimidated Mohammad Ziauddin, is the head teacher of the Rizia Nasrin Asiya Motalleb High School in Chittagong. He has been a human rights defender associated with Odhikar since 2008. Along with other documents, he submitted a certificate he received from an Odhikar- Minority Rights Group training on "Minority Friendly Inclusive Education' to the School Management Committee of his School (SMC). On receiving this, the SMC asked him to stay away from Odhikar. He no longer feels secure to work with Odhikar. Syeda Rakha Pervin has also been a human rights defender associated with Odhikar from 2008. On 11 August 2013, she organised a human chain in Chittagong demanding the release of Adilur Rahman Khan. After this event, police visited her home and her workplace to inquire about her and to tell her to cut off all association with Odhikar. Since then, she in unable to participate in Odhikar's local level activities.

Since Odhikar's publication detailing deaths due to police brutality on 6 May 2013, Odhikar staff and members of Adilur Rahman Khan's family have faced constant harassment. Drivers for Adilur's family have been arbitrarily detained, beaten and threatened; two staff members have faced intimidation and have been forced to discontinue their work with Odhikar; and Odhikar has seen its funds frozen, leaving its employees without pay.

On 9 January 2013, the Prime Minister announced the tranfer of all non-government all primary schools, both registered and non-registered to Governmental control and funding. However, secondary schools were not included in such process which provoked discontent from teachers and employees from these schools who decided to hold a series of protests. On 10 January 2013, a group of teachers was dispersed by police forces which used teargas and pepper spray, whose chemical composition was reportedly particularly toxic. Protestors were conducting a peaceful hunger strike, by sitting in front of the National Press Club and later gathering at the Central Shaheed Minar premises. According to sources, at least 20 teachers were injured in the course of the dispersal, of whom 10 had to be taken to the Dhaka Medical Hospital. It is alleged that Mr. Maulana Sekander Ali, a teacher who participated in the assembly and protested in a peaceful manner, died in Patuakhali five days after the police's intervention. It is reported that a journalist working for the TV channel Somoy was also injured in the course of the police operation. On 12 January 2013, another group of hunger strikers reportedly gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar premises. Police forces allegedly dispersed them. Subsequently, it is further reported that they formed a human chain on a nearby road at Dhaka University, but they were dispersed again. Both dispersions were allegedly executed using batons and pepper spray. On 13 January 2013, some protesters were allegedly dispersed while peacefully assembling before the National Human Rights Commission's office premises. Police forces reportedly used a water cannon and pepper spray. On 15 January 2013, a group of demonstrators went to Manik Mia Avenue to start a hunger strike. Sources state that the police set up barricades in order to block them at a corner of the avenue. After being dispersed, a group of teachers went to Sobhanbagh to stage a sit-in before the building Prince Plaza. It is alleged that police officers dispersed them by using tear shells and water cannons. On 18 January 2013, the teachers reportedly decided to postpone their demonstrations for three months after assurances were given that the Minister of Education would meet them. On 21 January 2013, the High Court Division of the Supreme Court issued a ruling giving the Government a deadline of three weeks to explain why the police could use pepper spray on demonstrators. The ruling was issued following a writ petition, filed by a Supreme Court lawyer.

From 10-18 January 2013, a series of peaceful demonstrations by employees of non-governmental schools were violently broken up by police. Over 20 were injured by police and one protestor allegedly died due to his injuries. Police used batons, pepper spray, tear gas and water cannon in suppressing the protests. On 18 January, the Supreme Court ruled that the government must provide an explanation regarding the use of violence to break up the protests.

Alleged attack on, and stabbing of, a prominent blogger in Dhaka. According to the information received, on 14 January 2013, Mr. Asif Mohiuddin was attacked by three unidentified men as he was leaving his office in Uttara district. He was stabbed several times in the neck and back and was in critical condition at the time of sending the communication. Mr. Mohiuddin is a prominent blogger, whose Bengali language blog ?Almighty only in name, but impotent in reality? is reportedly one of the most visited websites in Bangladesh. In his blog, Mr. Mohiuddin, who is an atheist, frequently criticized religion, and also provided commentaries on free speech and other human rights issues.

On 14 January 2013, Mr. Asif Mohiuddin, a prominent blogger famous for his advocacy for religious freedom, was stabbed several times as he was leaving his office in Uttara district. He was in critical condition when discovered.

On 11 December 2012, police allegedly beat and subsequently detained two photographers, Mr. Amran Hossain and Mr. Sourav Laskar, working for the Daily Star and New Age newspapers respectively. The two were briefly arrested, their equipment confiscated and allegedly beaten by policemen. Both were released later the same day. The two photographers were reportedly covering clashes between the police and supporters of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, taking photos of burning tires. The police, lead by Mamun Sirajul Haque, allegedly accused them of setting the fire and proceeded to beat them, despite the two 2 photographers showing their press identification cards. The two journalists were subsequently taken to a police station in the town of Shimrail, and allegedly beaten again. Later on, both journalists were taken to another police station in Siddhirganj, where their mobile phones and cameras were confiscated according to reports. Mr. Laskar's camera was allegedly smashed on the floor by the police. The two journalists were reportedly released in the afternoon on the same day and Mr. Mamun Sirajul Haque was suspended in connection with the incident.

On 11 December 2012, Bangladeshi police allegedly beat and subsequently detained two photographers, Mr. Amran Hossain and Mr. Sourav Laskar, working for the Daily Star and New Age newspapers respectively. The two were briefly arrested, their equipment confiscated and allegedly beaten by policemen. Both were released later the same day.

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia), a Bangkok-based regional human rights group with 47 member organisations from 16 countries across Asia, urged the government of Bangladesh to rescind the proposed amendment to the Information and Communication Technology Act 2006 (ICT Act). The proposed ICT Act is "riddled with legal irregularities and poses a serious threat to the exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and expression in the country," according to a FORUM-ASIA press release received in Dhaka on Thursday. It said a cabinet meeting on 19 August 2013 has hastily cleared the amendments to the ICT Act by citing the need for the provisions to be urgently implemented in the form of an ordinance. Under the present ICT Act, offences are non-cognizable and bailable. The amendment, however, aims to classify some offences as cognizable and non-bailable, thereby allowing law enforcement officials to arrest without obtaining a warrant. The amendment also sets a minimum punishment of seven years imprisonment for all such offences without taking into consideration the nature and gravity of the violation. Maximum punishment under the ICT Act has also been increased from ten years to fourteen years imprisonment. "Despite the parliament session being scheduled shortly in September 2013, the government of Bangladesh, having approved this ordinance, disregarded constitutional norms," the media release said. "The government has thus stripped the people's representatives of their legitimate right to discuss and debate the proposed provisions of the amendment. Reports suggest that the ordinance is likely to receive the assent of the President soon, after which it will come into effect." It said the proposed amendment by way of an ordinance to the ICT Act comes at a time when the government of Bangladesh has become increasingly intolerant towards voices of dissent and criticism. "The ordinance is certainly a further blow to the environment for the Bangladeshi people to exercise their fundamental freedom of opinion and expression. Measures such as this being put in place ahead of national elections in late 2013 can only be viewed as a serious attack on democracy," deplored Evelyn Balais-Serrano, Executive Director of FORUM-ASIA. She said the recent arrest of a prominent human rights defender Adilur Rahman Khan, secretary of a local human rights organisation Odhikar, on August 10 for the alleged offences under the ICT Act has resulted in a sense of shock among the local and international human rights community.

On 19 August 2013 the Bangladesh government proposed a number of amendments toughening the Information and Communication Technology Act. The changes proposed would classify some offences as cognizable and non-bailable, thereby allowing law enforcement officials to execute arrests without obtaining a warrant. A minimum sentence of 7 years for certain crimes has been proposed, and the maximum sentence is set to increase from 10 to 14 years. UPDATE 06/10/2013 - The amendment to the ICT Act was passed. Section 57 of the ICT Act 2013 states that publishing or transmitting in a website in electronic form of any defamatory or false information is considered to be a cognizable and non-bailable offence. UPDATE 29/10/2013: A Joint Allegation Letter (JAL) addressed to Bangladesh was issued on this matter by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. On 31 October 2013 Bangladesh acknowledged the communication.

On 4 September 2013, Mr. Nasiruddin Elan was charged under Section 57 of the ICT Act and Sections 505 (c) and 505A of the Penal Code, in relation to a fact-finding report issued by Odhikar on the killing of 61 people during an operation carried out on May 5-6, 2013 by security forces against Hefazat-e Islam activists in Dhaka. On September 11 2013, the Cyber Crimes Tribunal issued an arrest warrant against Mr. Elan. On 6 November 2013, Mr. Elan and his lawyers appeared before the Dhaka Cyber Crimes Tribunal and appealed for bail. At 12:20 in the afternoon Judge Shamsul Alam rejected the plea for bail and ordered that Mr. Elan be arrested and taken to Dhaka Central Jail. UPDATE 13/11/13: A Joint Urgent Appeal (JUA) on Mr. Elan's case was addressed to Bangladesh by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. On 14 November 2013, Bangladesh acknowledged receipt of the communication, but provided no clarification on the matter.

On 6 November 2013, Mr. Elan has been arrested under Section 57 of the ICT Act and Sections 505 (c) and 505A of the Penal Code. A warrant for Mr. Elan was originally issued on 11 September 2013 in connection to a report by the NGO Odhikar on police killings on 5-6 May 2013. UPDATE 13/11/13: A Joint Urgent Appeal (JUA) on Mr. Elan's case was addressed to Bangladesh by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. On 14 November 2013, Bangladesh acknowledged receipt of the communication, but provided no clarification on the matter.

Bangladesh's giant garment industry, which supplies a number of brands including H&M, Walmart, Gap, and others, is notorious for its low wages. But for countless workers who rely on those jobs to survive-even with the low wages-it has been a lifeline. Now some 5,000 workers or possibly more have lost their jobs, following massive protests in the country to demand higher pay, in what workers' advocates frame as retaliation for the protests, but industry representatives call a response to acts such as looting and vandalism. Among the factories that have fired workers, according to one workers' rights group, are some that supply well-known foreign brands. In January, as many as 50,000 garment workers in the capital Dhaka staged strikes and took to the streets in massive demonstrations over the low wages they receive. Many were dissatisfied following the government's move in November to raise their monthly minimum wage to 8,000 takas ($96), up from the previous 5,300 takas ($63). Some groups had demanded much more, including trade unions and workers' rights organizations that campaigned for a minimum of $193 per month, and others were unhappy about a discrepancy in the increase between junior and senior workers. Police used rubber bullets, tear gas, and water cannons to disperse the crowds. After one violent clash, one person was left dead and 50 others injured. After the protests, one senior police official told Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity that 4,899 workers were dismissed from their jobs. Kalpona Akter of the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity told the Associated Press that they knew of at least 5,000 workers who had been fired, but the true figure could be up to 7,000. "The government is undertaking measures to intimidate workers and squelch any attempt of workers to organize," Ben Vanpeperstraete of the Clean Clothes Campaign, an alliance of trade unions and non-governmental organizations that advocates for workers in the garment industry, told Al Jazeera. According to a spokesperson for the group, factories supplying foreign brands were among those that had fired workers. It named as an example Metro Knitting and Dyeing Mills-a supplier to brands such as Next and H&M-which confirmed terminating 287 workers. The Daily Star reported that workers were given 45 days of wages and dismissed on the condition that cases filed against them over the protests would be dropped. In a statement, H&M said it considers "freedom of association to be a non-negotiable human right. It is a key component of our Sustainability Commitment and a fundamental requirement for all our business partners." The company added that is "deeply concerned by the recent events in the Bangaldeshi textile industry." Next said it is aware of the situation and its "directly employed audit staff on the ground in Bangladesh are currently investigating this matter." It added that it is a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), which works to ensure fair supply chains and has a code of labor practices, and that the group is also aware of the claims. We have reached out to Metro Knitting and Dyeing Mills and the ETI for comment and will update this post with any reply. Representatives of the garment industry have framed the matter differently. "Some of the workers were involved in vandalism, looting, and other crimes," Siddiqur Rahman, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, told the AP. "They will damage our factories, they will destroy very expensive equipment, they will smash our vehicles and beat our officials. Should not we report it to police? If you are the owner what would you do?" Union leaders and other workers' advocates have argued that the government has an incentive to keep wages low in the industry, which accounts for about 83.5% of Bangladesh's exports and has made Bangladesh the second-largest garment exporter in the world behind China. Its main competitive advantage has long been how cheap a source of labor it is. But they also say workers want these jobs, as they're vital to many of the 4 million people employed in the industry. They just want better pay for doing them.

On 31 January 2019 some 5,000 workers or possibly more have lost their jobs, following massive protests in the country to demand higher pay

According to the information received, on November 11, 2018, the Daily Janakantha published an article by the newspaper's reporter Bibhash Baroi titled "The controversial organisation Odhikar is again involved in murky activities"[2]. In the article, Odhikar was accused of involvement in "various nefarious activities critical of the forthcoming elections[scheduled for December 30, 2018], the State and the government", "anti-State conspiracies", and "constantly spreading false propaganda against Bangladesh." The author of the article alleged that intelligence agencies recommended that the activities of Odhikar be shut down due to its "violating a circular issued by the Prime Minister's Office with regard to the NGO Bureau[NGOAB]" and its "taking cash money from donor agencies after funds were closed due to cessation of projects". In addition, the author himself recommended that "the registration of[Odhikar] be cancelled and all its activities stopped". The article also accused Odhikar of having published distorted and false information through a fact-finding report on the killing of civilians by security forces in May 2013, which had already led to the arbitrary arrest on trumped-up charges of Mr. Adilur Rahman Khan, Secretary of Odhikar, in August 2013 (see background information).

On 11 November 2018, Odhikar, a Bangladesh based non-governmental organisation working on human rights was wrongfully accused by pro-government Daily Janakantha newspaper as being " involved in murky activities"

(Bangkok/Kathmandu, 20 September 2018) - The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM ASIA) strongly denounces the passage of the controversial Digital Security Bill yesterday by the Bangladesh Parliament. Several sections of this Bill fall short of international human rights standards and pose serious threats to the freedom of expression and the press. The new law carries up to 14 years of imprisonment for recording government officials or conducts that amount to spreading "negative propaganda.' Furthermore, section 43 allows police to search and arrest anyone without a court warrant, which violates the core principle of the criminal justice system. The Bangladesh Parliament passed the Bill despite protests and resistance from local journalists and civil society, who have urged for amendments of sections that muzzle free speech and dissent critical of the Government. The law enables the creation of a new agency that can use electronic media to monitor if the media contents "carry out propaganda,' "hurt religious sentiments' or "create enmity and disturb law and order.' Such contents constitute violations, and could lead to severe punishments including life imprisonment. Ranked 146 in the 2018 Global Press Freedom Index, the right to free speech and press freedom in Bangladesh has been deteriorating with the increasing violence and death threats against journalists and media. The culture of impunity has further aggravated the situation. In 2017, at least 25 journalists and several hundred bloggers and Facebook users were prosecuted under the Information and Communication Technology Act, which penalises defamatory and blasphemous contents.[1] According to Odhikar, a FORUM-ASIA member organisation in Bangladesh, 128 people have been arrested since 2014 under section 57 of the same Act. Suppressing people's constitutional right to free speech and threatening journalists reporting on issues such as corruption and government irregularities, the Bill will further legitimise the suppression of dissent and media freedom, which FORUM-ASIA strongly condemns. FORUM-ASIA strongly urges the Parliament of Bangladesh to drop the Digital Security Bill and create a conducive environment for media freedom and freedom of expression in general.

On 19 September 2018, the Bangladeshi parliement passed the Digital Security Bill. Several sections of this Bill fall short of international human rights standards and pose serious threats to the freedom of expression and the press.

A Bangladeshi university lecturer has been suspended and detained for making allegedly derogatory remarks on Facebook about the prime minister, his lawyer said on Wednesday. A ruling-party activist filed a case against Maidul Islam under Bangladesh's notorious internet laws, which critics say are aimed at stifling dissent. The assistant sociology professor at Chittagong University posted the comments last month during massive protests over road safety that enraged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government. "He was sent to jail on Monday after he surrendered at a court in Chittagong," his lawyer Vulon Lal Bhowmik told AFP in the southeastern port city. On Tuesday he was suspended by the state-run university, the lawyer and an official of the school said. The arrest triggered protests by leftist groups who said they would organise a demonstration on Saturday. It came weeks after a top Bangladesh photographer and activist, Shahidul Alam, was arrested and denied bail over charges he made false and provocative comments during the protests in August. Alam had told Al Jazeera that the protests were the result of pent-up anger at corruption and an "unelected government... clinging on by brute force" that had looted banks and gagged the media. He is also being investigated for allegedly violating Bangladesh's internet laws, enacted in 2006 and sharpened in 2013 in the country of 165 million people. Alam - whose work has appeared widely in Western media and who founded the renowned Pathshala South Asian Media Institute - faces a maximum 14 years in jail if convicted, along with others detained during the protests. Bangladesh's parliament has since ratified a new digital security law, stipulating harsher punishment, despite widespread criticism by journalists and rights groups. Human Rights Watch on Tuesday said the law strikes a blow to freedom of speech, retaining the most problematic parts of the internet law and adding more provisions criminalising peaceful speech. In April, Bangladesh's most prestigious university suspended a professor for writing a column critical of Hasina's father and Bangladesh's first post-independence president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Morshed Hasan Khan was "suspended until further notice" from Dhaka University after he allegedly defamed Rahman, in an article published in a Bengali daily. Teachers have been punished in the past for stances critical of the former president. In August last year 13 high-school teachers were detained and remanded in custody ahead of a trial after being accused of sedition for remarks about him.

On 26 September 2018, a Bangladeshi university lecturer has been suspended and detained for making allegedly derogatory remarks on Facebook about the prime minister.

Polytechnic student Sifat and his elder brother Saifullah bin Mansur were picked up by detectives, along with some others, and taken to the Detective Branch (DB) office on Mintoo road on Wednesday. A day later, Sifat, along with some others, were released. But Saifullah and 11 others have neither been released nor produced before a court in the last five days. Alleging illegal confinement of students by DB of police, the families of the 12 detained students yesterday held a press conference in the city's Crime Reporters' Association and demanded that the students be freed or produced before the court immediately. As per the law, any detained person needs to be produced before a court within 24 hours of their detention. The 12 "detained students" are -- Saifullah, Al Amin, Jahirul Islam Hasib, Mujahidul Islam, Jahangir Alam, Gazi M Borhan Uddin, Tarek Aziz, Mahfuz, Raihanul Abedin, Iftekhar Alam, Tarek Aziz and Mehedi Hasan Rajib. "Police officials sometimes give assurances[that they are in custody] but sometimes they deny picking them up. We came to know from those who were released that our children are being tortured and are confined to the DB office...We are in fear about the fate of our children," said Mansur Rahman, father of Saifullah. "Sifat was tortured less than others and yet his narration of agony was horrifying," he said, quoting Sifat. More than two dozen students were picked up from different messes during raids at different points in Mohakhali and Tejgaon on Wednesday. The DB officials allegedly quizzed them about the quota movement and student protests for road safety, several family members told reporters at the briefing, quoting those released. Contacted, some police officials kept mum on the issue while DB Additional Commissioner Abdul Baten could not be reached for comments as he did not receive any calls to his phone. Meanwhile, Mansur claimed that his son Saifullah lived in Modhupur in Tangail with his family but started staying in Sifat's mess in Mohakhali after Eid to attend the training sessions of a pharmaceutical company he had recently joined. "Saifullah was in Tangail during both movements and he was in no way involved." "We are deeply concerned as we do not know what is going on...whether our sons have been killed or they are still alive," said another guardian. Enamul Haque, a guardian, told reporters in the briefing that his son Jahirul was staying in a mess at Tejkunipara and was taking coaching lessons for Dhaka University admission tests. "He was picked up on Wednesday. I went to the DB office several times. Sometimes they said they had him in custody and sometimes they denied it. We are in fear and uncertainty." He added that he had not been able to meet his son since he was picked up. Rashed Alam, brother of another detainee, Iftekhar, arrived in the city from Noakhali after being informed of his brother's detention by Iftekhar's neighbours. He still does not know for sure how or where his brother is. "Produce him before the court if he has committed a crime or release him otherwise," he appealed. Rafiqul Islam, father of Raihanul, could not hold back his tears when others were demanding a safe return of their sons. "Please ask them to release him as I toiled a lot for my son," requested Rafiqul, a driver by profession. The family members requested human rights organisations to be vocal against the confinement of their dear ones. Nur Khan Liton, a human rights activist, said, "Law enforcers are dodging the law to produce detainees before a court within 24 hours showing various excuses. This is against the law and action must be taken against those who practice it." He added that this practice has increased among some members of the law enforcers and unless it was stopped immediately, the public would lose faith in them. Around 150 persons, mostly students were arrested by police centring recent quota and student movement. Most of them were released on bail before Eid.

On 5 September 2018, 12 students suspected to have involvement in the quota reform movement was illegally confined and allegedly subject to torture by state police.

Police in Bangladesh's capital fired tear gas and rubber bullets Monday to disperse hundreds of demonstrating students, while a prominent human rights group demanded the release of an activist arrested for criticizing the government during more than a week of protests. Shahidul Alam, a well-known photographer and activist, was arrested Sunday by plain-clothed police after giving a television interview in which he said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had no credibility and was using "brute force" to cling to power. A court in Dhaka ordered him to be confined for seven days for questioning on charges of spreading false information and propaganda against the government. Amnesty International called for Alam's immediate release, with Deputy South Asia Director Omar Waraich saying in a statement that the arrest "marks a dangerous escalation of a crackdown by the government." The traffic chaos of the past week began easing on Monday, as immense demonstrations gave way to sporadic protests, though hundreds of students clashed with police in Dhaka's Bashundhara area where some private universities are located. Police fired rubber bullets and protesters said at least 40 people, mostly students, were injured. Elsewhere, police used tear gas against protesters at Dhaka's East West University and students marched through the Dhaka University campus chanting anti-government slogans and demanding justice. The protests, set off by the deaths of two students killed by speeding buses, grew last week to tens of thousands of people, becoming a major embarrassment to Hasina's government, which faces a general election later this year. On Monday, Bangladesh's Cabinet endorsed a draft law that would increase the maximum punishment for an accident leading to death to five years in jail, up from the current three years. Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said the bill will be submitted to Parliament soon for passage. The student protesters have demanded tougher punishment for offenses involving road accidents. On Sunday, pro-government youth groups attacked protesters and at least five journalists, including an Associated Press photographer. Hasina's party is blaming the main opposition party, led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, and its main ally Jamaat-e-Islami, saying they are manipulating student anger to foment trouble. Authorities have warned of tougher measures if the protests are used to create chaos. UPDATE: On 16 August 2018, it was estimated that the toll of students detained has now reached 97.

On 6 August 2018, many protesters were injured as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets Monday to disperse them.

August 5, 2018--A group of men who said they were from the detective branch of Dhaka police today took Shahidul Alam, a photographer, commentator, and the founder of the Bangladeshi multimedia organization Drik and Pathshala Media Institute, from his home, hours after he posted a video to Facebook about protests in the city, according to news reports. At least five journalists were attacked at the student protests, including a photographer for The Associated Press who was briefly hospitalized, according to the AP. "Bangladesh authorities must immediately release Shahidul Alam without charge," said CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Steven Butler in Washington, D.C. "Authorities should also ensure that Alam and all journalists covering unrest in Dhaka are able to work without fear of attack or arrest." Security guards at Alam's apartment building were cited in reports as saying that a group of at least 40 people, who said they were from the detective branch, forcibly pushed the photographer, screaming, into a car. The group allegedly broke the building's CCTV cameras and disconnected its intercom system, before taking him away, according to the same report. A few hours before, Alam posted a video on the protests to Facebook and was interviewed by Al-Jazeera. Local news reports differed in their accounts of the arrest. The United News of Bangladesh reported that police said Alam was detained for questioning over his Facebook post. The Daily Star cited a deputy commissioner who said police were investigating reports of his detention. CPJ's calls to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner's phone and detective branch went unanswered and an email to the metropolitan commissioner did not receive an immediate response. CPJ's call to the additional commissioner was disconnected after the person who answered said he could not confirm the arrest. CPJ's call to the Dhanmondi police station went unanswered. CPJ has documented multiple attacks on journalists in recent weeks in Bangladesh.

On 5 August 2018, Shahidul Alam, a photographer, commentator, and the founder of the Bangladeshi multimedia organization Drik and Pathshala Media Institute, was detained after he posted a video to Facebook about protests in the city.

Amar Desh acting Editor Mahmudur Rahman was hurt in an attack launched allegedly by Bangladesh Chhatra League men in Kushtia today. The onslaught came shortly after Rahman got bail in a case filed over demeaning Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. As our local correspondent reports, around 100 activists of the ruling party men positioned themselves outside the courtroom, led by Chhatra League's district President Tushar Ahmed. Mahmudur Rahman, who was granted bail by Kushtia Senior Judicial Magistrate MM Morshed, was first locked up inside the courtroom and then attacked after he emerged after 3:30pm. Brick chips were hurled targeting his car. Mahmudur Rahman was hit on the head by a brick chip. Last reported, he took shelter at the chamber of a local Awami League leader. While positioning themselves, BCL leader Tushar Ahmed told reporters: "We are waiting for him, and when he will come out of the courtroom. We want to know how he dares to make derogatory comments about Bangabandhu and Sheikh Hasina." This correspondent tried to talk to the high officials of police in the district but nobody agreed to make any comment on the issue. On December 10, 2017, BCL leader Tushar filed the defamation lawsuit with the Kushtia court over "demeaning comments" made by Mahmudur Rahman in a programme back on December 1, 2017, according to case statements. Mahmudur Rahman was sued in several districts over his remark.

On July 22 2018, Amar Desh, acting Editor Mahmudur Rahman, was hurt in an attack launched allegedly by Bangladesh Chhatra League men in Kushtia.

Quota reform campaigner of Rajshahi University Toriqul Islam was apparently forced out of hospital with his injuries. Toriqul's sister Fatima Khatun said she told the physicians at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital that her brother was not fit enough to leave the hospital. But the doctors did not pay heed, she alleged. "What offence has my brother committed? Can't he get treatment at the government hospital?" Fatema asked. Toriqul, a joint convenor of the quota reform platform Sadharon Chhatra Odhikar Songrokkhon Parishad unit at Rajshahi University (RU), was admitted to hospital with serious injuries on Tuesday after an attack by activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL). Toriqul was asked to leave the hospital on Thursday afternoon though he was still groaning in pain. He was then taken to a private hospital in the city's Lakkhipur area. On anonymity, a physician at the medical college hospital said one of his legs was broken and he might need an operation. The city's Matihar police station officer-in-charge (OC), Shahadat Hossain said there are no allegations against Toriqul. When asked then why he was kept under the police guard, the OC said he was given police protection for security reasons. The police then allowed the reporter to speak with Toriqul. "I dream to sit for BCS examination after finishing my graduation. I wish I were a BCS cadre. But, my father's woes...," Toriqul voice choked up and tears prevented him from speaking further. Toriqul, son of a farmer, has a brother and a sister. "I requested them not to beat me, but they didn't pay heed. One of them beat me with a stick and I lost last all strength. I couldn't say anything," Toriqul described the horrific moment of the attack. When asked why Toriqul was released from the hospital despite complaints from his relations, assistant professor of orthopaedics department Subrata Kumar Pramanik said the necessary treatment he needs has been given. If the "positioning' is okay, the bandage will be enough to heal him. Patients with such injuries are usually released at this stage, he added. Identities of the attackers A video footage shot during the attack shows Abdullah Al Mamun, an activist of Bangladesh Chhatra League unit at the university, beat Toriqul with a hammer. Mamun is a student of the sociology department of the university. A certain Latiful Kabir alias Manik was also seen brandishing a machete during the attack. Latiful is a student of history department of the university. Mehedi Hossan alias Mishu, organising secretary of the BCL and student of sociology department of the university, was seen brandishing a large stick in the video footage. When asked, Mehedi confessed his involvement in the attack. History department's 4th year student Ramijul Islam alias Rimu was also seen kicking Toriqul's head. Ramijul is a vice president of BCL. Ramijul also confessed his involvement in the attack. Also, BCL's organising secretary and law department's 4th year student Hassan Laban, BCL's RU unit vice president and applied mathematics student Ahmed Sajib and BCL's Bangabandhu Hall unit vice president Mizanur Rahman Sinha were also among the attckers. "A lot of Shibir (student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami) men entered the campus in the name of quota movement. Chhatra League was trying to check any possible instability on the campus," said BCL's RU unit general secretary. Asked about the attack on Toriqul, he said the incident took place while fighting them back. Protest RU teacher at the economics department Farid Khan said those who did this must face exemplary punishment. He called on the students to walk barefoot to the Shaheed Zoha memorial on the campus protesting at the attack. Meanwhile, in press conference, 14 teachers of the mass communication and journalism department have demanded punishment for the attackers.

On 5 July 2018, Toriqul, a joint convenor of the quota reform platform Sadharon Chhatra Odhikar Songrokkhon Parishad unit at Rajshahi University (RU), was denied access to medical services to treat his injuries.