Eighty-eight expatriate journalists, writers, teachers-researchers, cultural and rights activists have strongly condemned the torture of journalists and the suppression of freedom of speech in Bangladesh. In a statement sent to the media on Wednesday (2 July), they said that incidents of torture, harassment, dismissal of journalists, shutting down media outlets, and silencing journalists are unprecedented. “We strongly condemn and protest this unprecedented persecution of journalists and suppression of freedom of speech.”The statement said, “We, the expatriate journalists, writers, teachers-researchers, cultural and rights activists, are deeply concerned that since August 5 last year, journalists in the country have been subjected to indescribable torture. Simultaneously, today’s Bangladesh has imposed various ‘written and unwritten’ restrictions on freedom of expression across mainstream and social media, which we consider a deeply shameful and hateful act. Even though we live abroad, we have always been anxious about the well-being of our homeland. Therefore, we see it as our moral duty to criticize and protest any misfortune in the country.”According to the statement, available information shows that in the past 11 months alone, at least 412 journalists have been implicated in murder and other harassment cases. Thirty-nine journalists have been arrested. Additionally, there have been travel bans, bank account freezes, and harassing corruption cases filed at the Anti-Corruption Commission.The statement further noted that across Dhaka and the rest of the country, many journalists have been dismissed, accreditation cards of 168 journalists have been canceled, memberships of 101 journalists have been suspended, revoked, or terminated from national and regional press clubs, and unprecedented incidents of media takeovers have occurred.It said that during the July-August movement and afterward, 10 journalists were killed, and many were injured, yet the government did not extend any assistance to the affected journalists or their families. As a result of this torture and persecution, many journalists and their families are enduring indescribable mental, social, and economic distress, living in inhumane conditions.The signatories believe these acts of persecution are essentially suppressing freedom of speech, which has severely damaged the country’s image everywhere.They added that despite widespread lawsuits, dismissals, and other acts of persecution, no initiative has been seen from the government to address these issues; rather, the opposite has been observed. Bangladesh is currently under an interim government led by a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and members of the advisory council were once vocal defenders of journalists’ rights. Yet, journalist persecution and the suppression of free speech are happening today, which has left them deeply disappointed and hurt.The statement was signed by senior journalist Syed Badrul Ahsan residing in the UK; novelist, essayist, and researcher Dr. Mukid Chowdhury; journalist and essayist Sujat Mansur; journalist Ashekun Nabi Chowdhury; journalist and editor Syed Anas Pasha; journalist and chairman of UK BD TV Mohammad Mokis Mansur; former editor of Saptahik Sylheter Dak Syed Enamul Islam; poet T M Ahmad Kaisa; human rights and social justice activist Jesmin Chowdhury; poet Sofia Zahir; journalist and rhymester Syed Hilal Saif; lawyer and rights activist Dr. Raihan Rashid; lawyer and rights activist Dr. Nowreen Tamanna; lawyer and rights activist Warda Islam; journalist Mursalin Mizan; rights activist Tushar Ahmed; journalist and poet Hamid Mohammad.Other signatories include Sweden-based journalist and writer Sabbir Khan, writer Akhtar Zaman, journalist Delwar Hossain, journalist Jahanara Nuri, Germany-based blogger and activist Bandhan Munshi, rights activist Marjan Pradhan, Switzerland-based blogger and activist Azam Khan, US-based Ekushey Padak-winning writer and scientist and freedom fighter Dr. Nurun Nabi, scientist and social thinker and freedom fighter Dr. Zeenat Nabi, writer and researcher Obaidullah Mamun, lyricist, composer and singer and freedom fighter Tajul Imam, columnist and freedom fighter Syed Mahmoodullah, columnist and freedom fighter Subrata Biswas, journalist and presenter Taimur Faruq Tushar, Canada-based journalist and editor of Nobo Desh Shawgat Ali Sagar, Australia-based journalist Ajay Dasgupta, journalist Fazlul Bari, and 54 other expatriate journalists, writers, teachers-researchers, cultural, and rights activists.
