Several press freedom and human rights organizations have called on the Bangladesh government to halt the persecution of journalists in the country. They specifically highlighted concerns regarding media professionals Farzana Rupa and Mozammel Babu, emphasizing the need to prevent any criminal prosecution against them, especially on charges related to crimes against humanity for their journalistic activities.
In a joint statement, these organizations also expressed worries about the continued pre-trial detention of Rupa, Babu, and two other journalists, Shakil Ahmed and Shyamal Dutta, in connection with cases linked to the 2024 mass protests that led to the removal of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government. Bangladesh’s International Crime Tribunal had arrested journalists Rupa and Babu, along with former minister Dipu Moni, in a case associated with alleged crimes against humanity during the 2013 crackdown on the Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka.
The signatories of the statement pointed out that the legal representatives of Rupa and Babu had not been provided with any evidence or chargesheet since their arrest. They highlighted that the prosecution’s case was reportedly based on broadcast coverage of the 2013 events, including a program hosted by Rupa that was accused of disseminating misleading information about casualty figures and contributing to “crimes against humanity.”
Emphasizing the importance of protecting journalistic work, especially on matters of significant public interest, the organizations stressed that decisions on how to cover politically contested events should not be criminalized. They criticized the initiation of proceedings without a legal basis, stating that it creates a chilling effect on journalists and media outlets in Bangladesh. The groups called for the immediate release of journalists detained for peacefully exercising their rights and conducting their reporting, urging the authorities to drop politically motivated charges related to their journalistic activities and to cease the practice of filing multiple cases against journalists and others across the country.
