Take action to uphold freedom of expression

International human rights organisations, in a joint statement yesterday, urged the government to uphold freedom of expression and opinion, highlighting alarming incidents of arrests, harassment, and violence against journalists and human rights defenders in recent weeks.

They emphasised that Bangladesh has a long history of suppressing free speech and asserted that breaking from this past is essential to building a rights-respecting future.

Amnesty International, Article 19, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Fortify Rights, Front Line Defenders, Human Rights Watch, PEN America, and the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the statement.

The organisations pointed out that although some recent attacks were not perpetrated by state actors, the government is responsible for ensuring the protection of all individuals exercising their right to free speech. They called for immediate action to safeguard journalists and others from violence and intimidation.

The statement said that February saw a surge in violent attacks against journalists. On February 3, a journalist in Shariatpur was assaulted with hammers and knives after reporting on medical negligence at a private clinic. Three other journalists were injured in the incident. Six suspects were later produced in court on February 24.

On the same day, four journalists were attacked by masked assailants wielding bamboo sticks and firearms in Lakshmipur. Two days later, three journalists were reportedly assaulted by BNP men on the Supreme Court premises.

On February 9, police officers allegedly beat five journalists covering a protest in Dhaka. Additionally, on February 25, a BNP member in Thakurgaon was reported to have assaulted a journalist following an article accusing him of extortion.

The statement said that it is not only journalists that have faced attacks, but authors and poets and human rights defenders too.

On February 10, a group attacked a bookstall at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair for allegedly selling books by exiled writer Taslima Nasreen. While Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus ordered an investigation, no perpetrators have been held accountable, the statement said.

On February 13, poet Sohel Galib was arrested for "hurting religious sentiment" through a poem. Similarly, on March 3, the Dhaka Cyber Tribunal ordered an investigation against human rights defender Rakhal Raha for a Facebook post that questioned free speech restrictions in Galib's case.

The UN Human Rights Committee has stated that freedom of speech protections under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) extend even to expression deemed offensive. The Rabat Plan of Action also clarifies that freedom of religion does not include immunity from criticism or ridicule.

The rights groups said that Bangladesh's legal framework on cyber security also enables impermissible restrictions on freedom of expression.

On February 25, Kurigram police sought the arrest of writer Nahid Hasan under this law for "hurting religious sentiment".

The Cyber Security Act (CSA), a draconian piece of legislation, which has previously been used against government critics, human rights defenders, journalists and bloggers, in a manner which contravenes their right to freedom of expression. The provision in the CSA relating to hurting religious sentiment has, in the past, been used to curb freedom of expression and harass human rights defenders under the guise of religion, the statement said.

Despite the interim government's commitment to repealing the CSA, its proposed replacement, the Cyber Protection Ordinance 2025, retains problematic provisions, including those criminalising offences related to religion. Human rights groups have expressed disappointment over the lack of meaningful consultation in drafting the new law.

The human rights groups acknowledged the challenges faced by Bangladesh's interim government following the ousting of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's administration.

However, they stressed that genuine reforms are necessary to ensure stability during the transition.

The organisations urged the government to conduct transparent consultations on any new legislation and align it with international human rights standards, drop all charges against individuals detained solely for exercising free speech, and repeal laws that restrict expression on religious grounds.

They urged the government to ensure no arrests under the CSA while it remains in effect, investigate attacks on journalists and media workers, and prosecute perpetrators fairly and protect journalists, activists, and human rights defenders from intimidation and violence.

The groups emphasised that journalists and activists must be allowed to operate without fear, and the government must uphold its obligation to protect freedom of expression in Bangladesh.