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The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has expressed concern over the filing of a new crimes-against-humanity case and the issuance of arrest warrants against three journalists in Bangladesh over questions they asked at a press conference.
The journalists are Shyamol Dutta, Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa. The CPJ called for the withdrawal of the cases against them and urged authorities not to criminalize news gathering and journalism.
Citing media reports, the CPJ said Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal on Monday directed prison authorities to produce the three journalists, who have been detained in separate cases since 2024, before the country’s war crimes tribunal on August 24.
Prosecutors allege that the journalists played a role in suppressing the student movement in July 2024, which led to the ouster of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
According to the allegations, the three journalists asked “provocative” questions at a press conference on July 14, 2024. Prosecutors claim that this prompted Hasina to make derogatory remarks about the protesting students, after which a bloody crackdown against them was launched.
“Charging journalists Shyamol Dutta, Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa with crimes against humanity simply for asking questions at a press conference is deeply disturbing and unacceptable,” said Kunal Majumder, CPJ’s Asia-Pacific program coordinator.
He added, “Editorial decisions can be biased or ethically questionable, but they cannot be treated as crimes. Criminalizing editorial decisions sets a dangerous precedent and damages Bangladesh’s image as a democracy.”
Majumder called for the immediate release of the three journalists and the withdrawal of the charges against them.
The CPJ said Bangladesh’s Ministry of Law and the Office of the Chief Prosecutor did not respond to requests for comment sent by email.
