Lemkin Institute Urges Bangladesh to Free Veteran Journalist Shahriar Kabir

Dhaka — The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention and Human Security has called on the Bangladeshi authorities to immediately release veteran journalist, author, and human rights defender Shahriar Kabir, warning that his continued detention constitutes a serious violation of fundamental rights and international legal obligations.
In a statement released on January 5, the US-based institute said Kabir, 75, has been arbitrarily detained since his arrest by the Detective Branch of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police shortly after midnight on September 17, 2024. According to the statement, police failed to inform him of the specific charges at the time of arrest or notify his family of his whereabouts, breaching due process guarantees.
Authorities later claimed Kabir was arrested in connection with a murder case but presented no prima facie evidence, the institute said. His arrest and subsequent remand allegedly involved multiple procedural irregularities, including non-compliance with Supreme Court guidelines governing arrest, remand, and due process. These events occurred within weeks of the formation of Bangladesh’s interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus.
While still in detention, Kabir was later shown arrested in a case filed at the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh (ICTB) over alleged crimes linked to the 2013 Hefazat-e-Islam protest crackdown in Dhaka. The Lemkin Institute noted that Kabir never held any government position and had no role in law enforcement operations during that period.
The institute expressed grave concern that Kabir could face indictment and potentially the death penalty when he is produced before the tribunal, warning that recent conduct by courts and the interim government raises doubts about the possibility of a fair trial.
The statement said Kabir’s detention appears to be linked to his longstanding advocacy for secularism, opposition to religious extremism, and criticism of Jamaat-e-Islami. During bail hearings in an unrelated case, prosecutors reportedly referenced a television debate involving Kabir and a religious leader, indicating political motives rather than criminal conduct, it added.
The Lemkin Institute also highlighted Kabir’s deteriorating health, noting that he is wheelchair-bound and suffers from multiple chronic medical conditions. He was allegedly denied necessary medication at the time of arrest and has since been held in conditions that fall below minimum standards of humane treatment. Requests for adequate medical care and special treatment in detention have reportedly been repeatedly rejected.
During court appearances, Kabir was allegedly attacked and verbally abused by mobs inside court premises while he remained handcuffed and wearing protective gear. Authorities failed to ensure his safety, denied him access to a wheelchair and elevator, and obstructed his ability to consult legal counsel, the statement said.
Citing findings by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the institute said Kabir’s detention falls under multiple categories of arbitrariness and violates his rights to freedom of expression, opinion, association, and peaceful assembly.
The Lemkin Institute said Bangladesh is bound by international human rights treaties, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as its own constitution. Kabir’s continued detention, it warned, has a chilling effect on freedom of expression and civic space in the country.
The institute urged Bangladeshi authorities to immediately release Kabir, ensure access to adequate medical care, and guarantee his safety, dignity, and fundamental rights. It also called on interim government head Muhammad Yunus to intervene, describing the case as a “grave miscarriage of justice” and a stain on the government’s human rights record.