A human rights organization has urged the Bangladeshi government to retract a cautionary letter issued to Rani Yan Yan, a woman human rights defender, and to clarify the legal basis for its distribution to various government offices. Rani, an indigenous rights activist in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts, has been targeted with allegations of engaging in international propaganda and attempting to unite indigenous groups in the region.
Front Line Defenders, based in Ireland, highlighted Rani’s decade-long advocacy work focusing on indigenous rights and justice at different levels. The organization criticized the cautionary letter issued by Rangamati Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Nazma Ashrafi, alleging vague accusations without specific evidence against Rani. In response, Rani’s lawyer has demanded the withdrawal of the accusations, citing harm to her reputation due to the broad circulation of the letter.
Human rights activists and civil society members in Bangladesh have condemned the cautionary letter as an attempt to stifle freedom of expression and legitimate human rights advocacy, particularly in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Front Line Defenders called on the government to ensure the safety and freedom of all human rights defenders, especially those working on indigenous rights in the region, without fear of retaliation or restrictions.
