Joint statement by 88 expatriate journalists, writers, teachers-researchers, cultural and rights activists
We, the expatriate journalists, writers, teachers-researchers, cultural and rights activists, are deeply concerned to observe that since August 5 of last year, our beloved motherland, our dear homeland, has witnessed indescribable persecution against our long-time fellow journalists, our brothers and sisters. At the same time, in today’s Bangladesh, various written and unwritten controls are being imposed on the media and social media to suppress freedom of expression, which we consider to be an extremely shameful and despicable step. Although we live abroad, we remain concerned about the well-being of our country as always. Therefore, we consider it our moral duty to criticize and protest against any harm to the country.
During the 11 months of the current interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, there has been ongoing persecution of journalists at various levels and through various processes. According to the information received so far, in the past 11 months:
- At least 412 journalists have been made defendants in various harassment cases, including murder cases.
- 39 journalists have been arrested.
- Travel bans have been imposed on over three hundred journalists.
- Bank accounts of over a hundred journalists have been seized.
- Harassment cases of corruption have been filed with the Anti-Corruption Commission.
- Over a thousand journalists across the country, including in Dhaka, have been dismissed from their jobs.
- Press accreditation cards of 168 journalists have been cancelled.
- Membership of 101 journalists has been suspended, cancelled, or expelled from press clubs across the country, including the National Press Club.
- Unprecedented incidents like media takeovers have occurred in Bangladesh.
During the July-August movement and in the subsequent period, 10 journalists were killed and countless journalists were injured, but the government did not extend any assistance to the affected journalists or their families; rather, the scope of persecution has only expanded. The people of the country have also witnessed an unprecedented incident like ‘Jeafot’ where a mob was created in front of a newspaper office to slaughter cows. This is probably a rare incident not only in Bangladesh but in the entire world. As a result of these persecutions and oppressions, many journalists and their families are suffering indescribable mental, social, and economic hardships and are living subhuman lives. Needless to say, the mentioned numbers are constantly increasing.
We believe that these oppressive actions are primarily aimed at suppressing freedom of speech, as a result of which the country’s image has been severely questioned everywhere. Moreover, no initiative has been observed from the government to remedy these blanket cases, job losses, and other oppressive incidents; rather, the opposite has been seen. This has raised our suspicion that the government itself is involved in the persecution process. Currently, there is an interim government in power in Bangladesh, and a Nobel Peace Prize winner is in charge as the head of government. Moreover, members of the advisory council have been vocal in the past about protecting journalists’ rights. Yet, today, under their watch, incidents of journalist persecution and suppression of freedom of speech are occurring, which has disappointed and hurt us.
In the history of our land, such persecution, oppression, job losses, and attempts to silence the media and stop the pens have not occurred before. We are not aware of such incidents happening anywhere in the democratic world. We strongly condemn and protest against the unprecedented persecution of journalists and the suppression of freedom of speech.
Message sent by
Shaugat Ali Sagor
Journalist, Publisher & Editor In Chief, Notundesh, Canada
Phone: +16477724636
Email: [email protected]
Note: All the information and evidence mentioned in the statement are preserved with us.
The expatriate journalists, writers, teachers-researchers, cultural and rights activists who have consented to the statement are, respectively:
- Syed Badrul Ahsan, Senior Journalist, Researcher, and Writer, UK
- Dr. Mukid Chowdhury, Fiction Writer, Essayist, and Researcher, UK
- Sujat Mansur, Journalist and Essayist, UK
- Ashequn Nabi Chowdhury, Journalist, UK
- Syed Anas Pasha, Journalist and Editor, Shottobani, UK
- Mohammed Mokis Monsur, Journalist and Chairman, UK BD TV, UK
- Syed Enamul Islam, Former Editor, Weekly Sylheter Dak, UK
- T M Ahmed Kaysher, Poet and Founding Director of Saudha, UK
- Jasmin Chowdhury, Human Rights & Social Justice Campaigner, UK
- Sofia Zahir, Poet, UK
- Syed Hilal Saif, Journalist and Rhymester, UK
- Dr. Rayhan Rashid, Lawyer & Rights Activist, UK
- Dr. Nowrin Tamanna, Lawyer, Rights Activist and Lecturer, University of Reading, UK
- Warda Islam, Lawyer and Rights Activist, UK
- Mursalin Mizan, Journalist, UK
- Tushar Ahmed, Rights Activist, UK
- Hamid Muhammed, Journalist and Poet, UK
- Sabbir Khan, Journalist and Writer, Sweden
- Aktar Zaman, Writer, Sweden
- Delwar Hossain, Journalist, Sweden
- Jahanara Nuri, Journalist, Sweden
- Bandhon Munshi, Blogger and Activist, Germany
- Marjan Prodhan, Rights Activist, Germany
- Azam Khan, Blogger and Activist, Switzerland
- Freedom Fighter Dr. Nurun Nabi, Ekushey Padak-Winning Writer and Scientist, USA
- Freedom Fighter Dr. Zeenat Nabi, Scientist & Social Thinker, USA
- Freedom Fighter Tazul Imam, Lyricist, Composer, and Vocalist, USA
- Freedom Fighter Syed Mahmudullah, Columnist, USA
- Freedom Fighter Subrata Biswas, Columnist, USA
- Kulada Roy, Fiction Writer, USA
- Hassanal Abdullah, Poet and Essayist, USA
- Sheela Mostafa, Poet, USA
- Dr. Niru K. Nahar, Writer & Research Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Dr. Md. Abu Naser Razib, Professor and Chair, Department of Communications, California State University, Bakersfield, USA
- Dr. Raihan Jamil, Educator, Researcher, and Writer, USA
- Sezan Mahmud, Writer, lyricist, Columnist and Medical Scientist, USA
- Sultana Rahman, Journalist and Presenter, USA
- Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, Journalist and Writer, USA
- Lutfun Nahar Lata, Writer and Actress, USA
- Farjahan R. Shawon, Director, Center for Teaching and Learning, Northern New Mexico College, NM, USA
- Faqir Elias, Poet, USA
- Farhana Iliyas Tuli, Poet, USA
- Syed Zakir Ahmed Rony, Actor & Theatre Activist, USA
- Dr. Anjuman A. Islam, Water & Environmental Engineer, Researcher and Columnist, USA
- Obaidullah Mamun, Writer and Researcher, USA
- Shwapnil Firoz, Poet, USA
- Khaled Sharfuddin, Poet, USA
- Smriti Bhadra, Fiction Writer and Teacher, USA
- Taimur Faruk Tusher, Journalist and Presenter, USA
- Bikash Majumder, Rights Activist, USA
- Puspita Anindita, Rights Activist, USA
- Minhaj Ahmed, Writer, USA
- Monzur Quader, Writer, USA
- G. H. Arzu, Cultural Activist and Organizer, USA
- Mithun Ahmed, Cultural Activist and Organizer, USA
- Cecilia Moral, Cultural Activist and Organizer, USA
- Sabina Niru, Recital Artist & Cultural Activist, USA
- Abu Saeed Ratan, Writer, USA
- Mujahid Ansari, Columnist, USA
- Delwar Elahi, Poet and Cultural Activist, USA
- Kaushik Ahmed, Journalist and Essayist, USA
- Aslam Ahmad Khan, Journalist and Writer, USA
- Clara Rosario, Elocutionist, USA
- Annie Ferdous, Cultural Organizer, USA
- Shakilur Rahman, Journalist, USA
- Nahar Trina, Fiction Writer, USA
- Sagar Lohani, Journalist, Editor & Publisher, Bangalianaa, USA
- Salma Bani, Fiction Writer, Canada
- Saifullah Mahmud Dulal, Poet, Canada
- Shaugat Ali Sagor, Journalist, Publisher & Editor in Chief, Notundesh, Canada
- Harun Al Rashid, Fiction Writer and Former Diplomat, Canada
- Khondaker Ismail, Journalist and Presenter, Canada
- Shayla Ahmed Lopa, Rights Activist, Canada
- Afsana Kishwar Lochan, Journalist and Presenter, Canada
- Dr. Shamim Ahmed Jeetu, Economist, Researcher, and Writer, Canada
- Dr. Mohammad Mahmud Hasan Tipu, Associate Professor, Department of Law and Legal Studies, Carleton University, Canada
- Abdullah Al Imran, Journalist and Fiction Writer, Canada
- Parvez Chowdhury, Poet and Media Personality, Canada
- Abdullah Al Mamun, Writer and PhD Researcher, Canada
- Nadim Iqbal, Documentary and Filmmaker, Canada
- Sohel Saleh, Writer and Banker, Canada
- Fazlul Bari, Journalist, Australia
- Dr. Tariq Zaman, Scientist and Writer, Australia
- Ajoy Dasgupta, Essayist, Columnist, Rhymester and Media Personality, Australia
- Abul Hasnat Milton, Poet and Physician, Australia
- Akash Anwar, Cultural Personality and Founder, Bangla Academy Australia
- Arifur Rahman, Fiction Writer, Australia
- Mohibul Alam, Fiction Writer, Australia
(not in order of seniority)
Date: 2 July, 2025
