Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned charges of crimes against humanity against at least 25 Bangladeshi journalists charges, calling for their immediate release and the dismissal of all unfounded allegations.
The organisation has highlighted the pattern of judicial harassment against journalists in the country.
On August 29, the 25 journalists were charged with crimes against humanity, linked to the death of a protester in July. Among those charged are Farzana Rupa and Shakil Ahmed, both of whom were previously implicated in other protester deaths and are currently detained, said RSF on its wedsite.
The complaint, lodged with the International Crimes Tribunal—originally established in 1973 to prosecute war crimes from Bangladesh’s independence—marks an escalation in the legal actions targeting journalists over the past ten days. In addition to Rupa and Ahmed, who were recently dismissed from Ekattor TV, other prominent figures named in the case include the former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina. Although Rupa and Ahmed are the only journalists currently detained, many others have reportedly gone into hiding, fearing arrest.
Antoine Bernard, RSF’s Director of Advocacy and Assistance, condemned the actions, stating, “The purge of journalists affiliated with the former government has reached a new level. Media professionals are bearing the brunt of a legal vendetta that is damaging the political transition in Bangladesh. The interim authorities, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, must act to stop this vicious process. Farzana Rupa and Shakil Ahmed must be released immediately, and all charges against journalists must be dropped.”
Several high-profile journalists, editors, and TV presenters are among those named in the case.
The list includes:
*Abed Khan, former editor-in-chief of Dainik Samakal
*Ahmed Zobair, CEO of Somoy TV
*Ajoy Dasgupta, former deputy editor-in-chief of Dainik Samakal
*Ashish Saikat, news director of Independent Television
*Farida Yasmin, president of the Jatiya Press Club
*Farzana Rupa, presenter at Ekattor TV
*Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, editor-in-chief of Daily Observer
*Joy E Mamun, former news director of ATN Bangla
*Manash Ghosh, news director of Asian TV
*Mohammed Manzurul Islam, editor-in-chief of DBC News
*Mozammel Babu, managing editor of Ekattor TV
*Munni Saha, former news director of ATN News
*Nobonita Chowdhury, presenter and program director at BRAC
*Naem Nizam, editor-in-chief of Bangladesh Pratidin
*Pranab Saha, editor-in-chief of DBC News
*Probash Amin, former news director of ATN News
*Saiful Alam, editor-in-chief of Dainik Jugantor
*Shakil Ahmed, news director at Ekattor TV
*Shyamal Dutta, editor-in-chief of Bhorer Kagoj
*Shyamal Sarkar, journalist at Ittefaq
*Soma Islam, presenter at Channel i and president of the Reporters’ Forum for Election and Democracy (RFED)
*Subhash Singha Roy, journalist and political analyst
*Swadesh Roy, journalist for Dainik Janakantha
*Tushar Abdullah, news director of Ekhon TV’s financial channel
*Zayadul Ahsan Pintu, journalist at DBC News
Ongoing investigations and broader context
This latest legal action follows a series of lawsuits against journalists. On August 28, three additional journalists—Mahmudul Alam Noyon of Dainik Janakantha, Hasibur Rahman Bilu of Independent Television, and JM Rauf of Dainik Kaler Kantho—were named in a separate case concerning the murder of another protester. These cases are part of a broader pattern of targeting media professionals, which intensified during the final months of Sheikh Hasina’s government, RSF also said.
In February 2023, JM Rauf was physically attacked by supporters of the Awami League, Hasina’s party. This marked a continuation of the hostile environment for journalists in Bangladesh, reflected in the country’s low ranking of 165th out of 180 in RSF’s 2024 World Press Freedom Index.
RSF continues to call for an end to the harassment of journalists and for the immediate release of those detained.
