Bangladesh authorities detain sister of exiled journalist Kanak Sarwar
Washington, D.C., October 6, 2021 — Bangladesh authorities must immediately release Nusrat Shahrin Raka, cease targeting journalists’ family members, and commit to allowing the media to operate without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Very early yesterday morning, officers with the police Rapid Action Battalion raided Raka’s home in Uttara, a…
Bangladesh authorities charge 3 journalists under Digital Security Act
Washington, D.C., September 21, 2021 — Bangladesh authorities must immediately drop all charges against journalists Kabir Kishore, Tasneem Khalil, and Shafiqul Islam Kajol, and cease harassing members of the press under the draconian Digital Security Act, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On September 8 and 12, the Dhaka Cyber Tribunal accepted Digital Security…
Bangladesh authorities detain journalist Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman under Digital Security Act
On July 18, police in the northern district of Bogura arrested Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman, a district correspondent who covers business news for the Dhaka-based Bangla daily newspaper Banijjo Pratidin, and opened an investigation into the journalist under the Digital Security Act, according to news reports. Authorities allege that Akhtaruzzaman published two Facebook posts under a pseudonym…
Bangladesh authorities investigate 3 journalists under Digital Security Act
Washington, D.C., July 12, 2021 — Bangladesh authorities should immediately drop their investigations into journalists Tanvir Hasan Tanu, Rahim Shuvo, and Abdul Latif Litu, and scrap the country’s draconian Digital Security Act, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On July 10, police in the northeast district of Thakurgaon opened Digital Security Act investigations into…
Bangladesh journalist Abu Tayeb jailed under Digital Security Act
New York, April 23, 2021 – Bangladesh authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalist Abu Tayeb, and reform the country’s draconian Digital Security Act, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At about 10 p.m. on April 20, police in the central city of Khulna arrested Tayeb, a correspondent for the broadcaster NTV and Khulna…
Bangladesh charges 3 journalists under Digital Security Act
New York, February 8, 2021 – In response to Bangladesh authorities’ recent filing of charges under the Digital Security Act against photographer Shafiqul Islam Kajol, writer Mushtaq Ahmed, and cartoonist Kabir Kishore, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “We are extremely alarmed by Bangladeshi authorities’ continuous and blatant abuse of the Digital…
CPJ calls on Bangladeshi prime minister to arrange for release of journalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol
CPJ asks Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to arrange for the immediate and unconditional release of jailed journalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol, whose ill health makes him especially vulnerable to COVID-19 infection, potentially putting his life in danger.
Bangladeshi journalists face physical attacks, legal cases, and detention amid COVID-19 pandemic
Between March 10, 2020, and May 21, 2020, authorities detained at least six journalists in Bangladesh and opened investigations into at least nine more under the country’s Digital Security Act, according to news reports and CPJ interviews with journalists. At least seven other journalists were assaulted by both the authorities and political figures, according to…
Bangladeshi authorities investigate 5 journalists, detain 2 under Digital Security Act for COVID-19 reporting
New York, June 22, 2020 – The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on authorities in Bangladesh to immediately and unconditionally release political cartoonist Kabir Kishore and writer and commentator Mushtaq Ahmed and to stop using the Digital Security Act to silence critical reporting on the coronavirus pandemic. On May 6, Kishore, Ahmed, and three…