Bangladesh
Friday 19.6.2020 Bangladesh - Latest Developments
Journalists in Bangladesh face criminalisation amid the pandemic while critics are silenced
The Bangladesh government has taken advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to ramp up its assault on civic freedoms. Journalists have been systematically targeted since March 2020 under the draconian Digital Security Act for their reporting on the pandemic and on other critical issues. There have also been reports of journalists allegedly being tortured or forcibly disappeared. Further, other critics who have been targeted include students, opposition activists, academics, cartoonists and writers. There has been failure to hold to account those involved in violations related to the 2018 student protests. Read more
Wednesday 19.2.2020 Bangladesh - Latest Developments
News site blocked while critics and journalists arrested or attacked with impunity in Bangladesh
In recent months, the Bangladesh authorities have blocked a news website and arrested and charged critics under the draconian Digital Security Act. Activists linked to the ruling party were involved in attacks on journalists covering the Dhaka municipal elections in February 2020 and the death of a student who criticised the government online. There have been restrictions and attacks on peaceful rallies by opposition groups while Rohingya refugees face increasing restrictions in Cox Bazar. Read more
Wednesday 18.9.2019 Bangladesh - Latest Developments
Bangladesh authorities suppressing critics and restricting freedoms in refugee camps
In recent months lawyers and writers have faced criminal defamation charges for their critical comments, four journalists are facing trumped up charges for exposing police negligence and a news website has been blocked. Further, the authorities are attempting to restrict the civic freedoms of Rohingya refugees in the camps in Cox Bazar and have banned some NGOs from working there. Read more
Tuesday 9.4.2019 Bangladesh - Latest Developments
Persistent suppression of critics in Bangladesh following elections
In the last few months, the authorities have continued to censor or ban news websites or blogs and use defamation laws such as the Digital Security Act to criminalise journalists and government critics. Read more
Thursday 20.12.2018 Bangladesh - Latest Developments
Opposition under assault and news websites blocked ahead of Bangladeshi elections
Bangladesh security forces have been arresting and intimidating opposition figures and blocked 54 news websites in advance of national elections on 30th December 2018 Read more
Thursday 29.11.2018 Bangladesh - Latest Developments
Smear campaign against leading human rights group, as elections loom
A smear campaign has been unleashed by government-aligned media in Bangladesh against local human rights group Odhikar Read more
Friday 26.10.2018 Bangladesh - Latest Developments
Repressive laws and tactics used to silence critics as Bangladesh elected to UN Human Rights body
Over the last month government critics have continued to be criminalised, while the authorities have embarked upon intensive and intrusive surveillance and monitoring of social media ahead of national elections due in Bangladesh by January 2019 Read more
Monday 10.9.2018 Bangladesh - Latest Developments
Photojournalist Shahidul Alam still in jail and a hundred charged, a month after student protests
In early August 2018, police used excessive force, including firing rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse peaceful demonstrations in Dhaka which were triggered by the killing of two teenagers by a speeding bus . Protesters were also attacked by youth wing of the ruling party.. Since then around a hundred individuals have been charged Read more
Thursday 2.8.2018 Bangladesh - Latest Developments
Student wing of ruling party attacking activists, academics and journalists with impunity
The Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) - the student wing of the ruling party Bangladesh Awami League (BAL) have been attacking quota reform student activists, academics and journalists with impunity Read more
Thursday 19.4.2018 Bangladesh - Latest Developments
Students protesters attacked as ruling party cracks down on dissent
In early April 2018, the police together with the student wing of the ruling party unleashed violence against students protesting in Dhaka against the quota system. Read more
