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.