The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has written to Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman, urging the government to fulfil its election pledge to withdraw politically motivated cases against journalists and to drop charges against Farzana Rupa, Shakil Ahmed, Mozammel Haq Babu and Shyamal Dutta, while securing their release.
“All four journalists have been held for more than 18 months accused of murder which, based on our documentation, testimony from their families, and review by international counsel, no credible evidence has been presented and no charge sheet has been served,” the letter said.
It added that the pattern of cases appeared closely tied to their reporting and perceived affiliations, adding the arrests, made under the previous administration, appeared to be retaliatory.
CPJ also raised serious humanitarian concerns.
It said Shyamal Dutta has documented cardiac conditions and severe sleep apnea that remain unassessed in custody; Mozammel Babu, who underwent major invasive surgery for prostate cancer in late 2023, has not received required follow-up care; and Farzana Rupa was held for two weeks in November 2024 in a “condemnation cell” reserved for death-row inmates.
In the letter, CPJ described its appeal as one made “in a spirit of constructive engagement”, noting that the first months of the new administration had offered “encouraging signals on press freedom”.
Citing protections under Article 39 of the Constitution and Bangladesh’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, CPJ urged authorities to consider dropping the charges and allowing the journalists to return to their families.
Pending that outcome, it called for immediate access to necessary medical treatment in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
CPJ said a resolution of the cases would be received internationally as a clear signal of the reforms pledged by the government and would strengthen goodwill surrounding Bangladesh’s democratic transition.
It also expressed willingness to engage directly with the minister and proposed a visit to Dhaka later this year to discuss broader press freedom issues.
The letter was signed by Kunal Majumder, Asia-Pacific Programme Coordinator at CPJ, and copied to the Attorney General Md. Ruhul Quddus Kazal, Home Affairs Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, and Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon.
