April 3, 2025 4:42 am
Full News

Imprisoned Bangladeshi Journalists Farzana Rupa and Shakil Ahmed Appeal to United Nations Over Arbitrary Detention


Lawyers representing Bangladeshi journalists Farzana Rupa and Shakil Ahmed have submitted an appeal to the United Nations’ Human Rights Council, highlighting their ongoing arbitrary detention. The couple, both prominent figures in Bangladeshi journalism, were arrested on August 21, 2024, shortly after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. The charges against them, including murder, are reportedly linked to their journalistic work. Their arrest has drawn international criticism as part of a broader pattern of retaliation against media professionals since the political transition.
Farzana Rupa, an investigative journalist and television presenter, and her husband Shakil Ahmed, former head of news at Ekkator TV, were detained following accusations that their reporting incited crimes resulting in the deaths of student protesters. Ekkator TV, a privately owned Bengali-language satellite and cable news channel, faced hostility for its perceived alignment with the Hasina administration. The network’s offices were vandalized, and it was temporarily forced off air by student leaders of the July revolution.

The arrests of Rupa and Ahmed are emblematic of the challenges faced by journalists in Bangladesh since the regime change. Following Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, numerous media outlets were shut down, and many journalists were fired due to pressure from protest leaders. Between October and November 2024, several journalists also had their press accreditation suspended. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued a letter to Bangladesh’s interim leader, Professor Muhammad Yunus, on November 11, 2024, urging the protection of press freedoms. Despite these calls, the crackdown on media professionals persists.
Rupa and Ahmed’s situation is particularly dire. Since their arrest, they have endured repeated interrogations without access to legal counsel. Rupa has been subjected to solitary confinement, while both have had limited contact with their family and lawyers. New charges have been filed against the couple, further complicating their case. They have now spent over 150 days in detention without trial.
Today, their legal representatives initiated complaints with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression. The couple is represented internationally by a team of lawyers from Doughty Street Chambers in London and Sydney, led by Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC. Speaking on the matter, Gallagher stated, “Too often the first casualties of political change are journalists, and that is exactly what has happened here. This is a case of nothing other than retributive lawfare. The prosecution of these two peaceful TV news workers is vengeful and vindictive and must end.”
Gallagher further emphasized the need for the interim government to uphold the rule of law and ensure that political reforms are not undermined by retaliatory actions. She vowed to call on the UN to hold the Bangladeshi government accountable and to demand the immediate release of Rupa and Ahmed. The international legal team also includes Matthew Lewis SC, Jonathan Price, and Nikila Kaushik.
Beh Lih Yi, the Asia Program Coordinator for CPJ, added, “Bangladesh’s interim government must protect press freedom and end any political witch hunts. As the interim government’s head engages with world leaders in Davos, Bangladesh must show its commitment to reforms and drop retaliatory charges against journalists. The media must uphold ethical journalism and be allowed to report without fear or favour in this new political era.”
The arrest and detention of Farzana Rupa and Shakil Ahmed underscore the precarious state of press freedom in Bangladesh. Their case has become a rallying point for advocates of journalistic independence and human rights. As international pressure mounts, the spotlight remains firmly on the interim government’s commitment to protecting civil liberties and fostering a free and fair media landscape. Observers and stakeholders worldwide are calling for the immediate release of the detained journalists and the restoration of press freedoms in Bangladesh.

Related News
Bangladesh’s Interim Government Must Stop Arbitrary Arrests: Human Rights Watch
Violence Against Women is Increasing in Bangladesh
Mother and daughter picked and gang rapped at remote island in Noakhali
Bella Hadid Makes a Surprise Cameo in Yellowstone Season Finale
Anti-Immigrant Sentiment Escalates Following German Market Tragedy
Over 5,00,000 political opponents face criminal cases, RRAG seeks UN resolution against Yunus’ government
Related Posts
Myanmar Junta May Gain Diplomatic Advantage from Devastating Earthquake
Tulip Siddiq Accuses Bangladesh Authorities of False Allegations and Media Smear Campaign
Gold Prices Rise After Trump’s New Tariff Plan Announcement
Putin Calls for 160,000 More Troops in Russian Army Amid Ongoing Conflict
Bangladesh’s Bizarre Ride on the Donkey’s Back
U.S. Imposes 37% Tariff on Bangladeshi Products
More News

‘Future Messi’ Is Now In The Case Of Cancellation

Who is the number 5 jersey on any team? The best of the team, the most creative and confident player of the attack, is it? Lionel Messi, one of those who made the number 5 jersey in the age of ‘glorious’. After the Argentine superstar Barcelona left Barcelona in 2021, the ‘1’ jersey knows who […]

Tottenham until 2026

The English Premier League club has extended the contract with the South Korean forward for one year. Tottenham Hotspur have signed a one-year extension to Son Heung-min’s contract. So the South Korean forward will stay at the English Premier League club until 2026. Son joined Tottenham in 2015. The 32-year-old is now the club’s captain. […]

Elon Musk Adopts ‘Kekius Maximus’ Moniker, Sparks Speculation

WASHINGTON – On December 31, billionaire Elon Musk adopted the moniker “Kekius Maximus” on his social media platform X, igniting speculation among his 210 million followers. The new handle is a blend of an alt-right symbol, a memecoin, and the lead character from the movie Gladiator. Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and a […]

Son of Tiger Wood Charlie, 15, hits first hole-in-one!

Tiger Woods’ teenage son Charlie hit his first hole-in-one during the final round of the PNC Championship – but they were beaten to the title in a play-off by Bernhard and Jason Langer.Charlie Woods, 15, holed out at the par-three fourth to send the father-son team into the lead at the tournament, which features 20 […]

Rise of Chinese AI Start-Up DeepSeek Challenges Japan’s Energy Projections

TOKYO, Jan 31 (Reuters) – Just weeks after Japan unveiled a landmark energy plan anticipating a surge in artificial intelligence (AI) demand, the unexpected rise of Chinese start-up DeepSeek has prompted a reevaluation of future power needs. In 2024, Tokyo shifted its long-held forecasts, projecting electricity generation to rise between 10% and 20% by 2040, […]

Iran Protests US Arrest of Nationals Over Technology Export Allegations

Tehran has lodged a formal protest over the arrests of two Iranian nationals in Italy and the United States, accused of transferring sensitive American technology to Iran. The arrests and subsequent charges have drawn sharp criticism from Iranian officials, who claim the actions violate international laws and norms.Charges Filed Against Two IraniansThe U.S. Department of […]

Emilia Pérez Leads 2025 Oscars with Record-Breaking 13 Nominations

The 2025 Academy Award nominations have been announced, and Emilia Pérez is leading the charge with a groundbreaking 13 nominations, setting a new record for a non-English-language film. The nominees were revealed live by Rachel Sennott and Bowen Yang on Thursday morning. The 97th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien, will air live on Sunday, […]

Kurdish Rebels to Stop Fighting: Erdoğan’s Major Success

Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned Kurdish rebel leader, has decided to dissolve his organization, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). He has also called on Kurdish fighters to surrender their weapons and end the conflict against Turkey. On Thursday (February 27), Kurdish lawmakers and leaders read Öcalan’s message at a press conference in Istanbul. They had visited […]

Regional Peace and Stability: a Vehicle for rapid growth and people’s welfare

Dr. A K Abdul Momen As a Foreign Minister, I introduced 3 policy packages and these were (1) Economic Diplomacy, (2) Public Diplomacy, and (3) Regional Peace and Stability packages. Bangladesh has 3 major resources and these are (1) large young manpower, (2) plenty of waters, (3) limited but fertile land. In addition, its geo-strategic […]

Trump Reinstates “Maximum Pressure” Sanctions on Iran, Warns of Severe Repercussions for Assassination Attempts

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Amid ongoing investigations into two assassination attempts against him, President Donald Trump has reiterated his stern stance on Iran, warning of severe repercussions should the country be involved in any such plots. Trump, while signing a memorandum to reinstate his “maximum pressure” sanctions policy, stated, “If I were assassinated by Iran, the […]