Washington, April 28: An international press freedom organisation has urged the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led government to withdraw what it describes as politically motivated criminal cases and release four senior journalists who have remained in detention for more than 18 months without the filing of charge sheets in murder cases.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), in a communication addressed to Bangladesh’s Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Md Asaduzzaman, called on the government to honour its election commitments by ending what it termed unjust prosecutions and ensuring the immediate release of the detained journalists.
The appeal concerns Farzana Rupa, Shakil Ahmed, Mozammel Haq Babu, and Shyamal Dutta, who were arrested during the tenure of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government. They have been held on murder allegations for over a year and a half, with authorities yet to present formal charge sheets in court proceedings.
According to CPJ, no credible evidence has been produced to substantiate the allegations against the journalists, despite nearly 600 days passing since their arrest. The organisation said the absence of a charge sheet raises serious concerns over due process and the legitimacy of the cases filed against them.
The press freedom group further stated that the arrests appear to be linked to the journalists’ perceived political affiliations and professional reporting, describing the pattern as inconsistent with democratic norms and freedom of expression. It noted that such practices contradict public commitments made by the current administration to reform earlier governance failures.
The CPJ also highlighted severe humanitarian and health concerns involving the detained journalists. It reported that Farzana Rupa was confined for two weeks in a cell designated for death row inmates, raising questions over detention conditions.
Shyamal Dutta reportedly suffered a stroke shortly after his arrest on September 16, 2024, while authorities allegedly did not promptly inform his family. He is known to have pre-existing cardiac complications and severe sleep apnoea, conditions that, according to CPJ, have not been properly addressed in custody.
Mozammel Haq Babu, arrested on the same day, was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had undergone major surgery in 2023. CPJ stated that he has not received required post-operative medical care, placing him at risk of complications and potential recurrence of the disease.
The organisation has urged Bangladesh authorities to consider dropping all charges against the four journalists and facilitate their return to their families. Until such action is taken, it has called on the law and home ministries to ensure immediate access to adequate medical treatment and safeguard their well-being in custody.
The appeal adds to growing international scrutiny of press freedom conditions in Bangladesh, particularly concerning prolonged detentions without trial and alleged politically driven prosecutions.
