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January 22, 2025 – Bangladesh –
Bangladeshi journalists Farzana Rupa and Shakil Ahmed, both formerly with the private broadcaster Ekattor TV, have filed a formal complaint with the United Nations Human Rights Council over their ongoing detention, alleging political persecution and arbitrary imprisonment. Their legal team submitted the complaint to the UN’s Special Procedures in January 2025, urging international intervention.
The couple was arrested at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on August 21, 2024, as they attempted to leave the country. Authorities charged them with inciting violence during a wave of student protests that erupted earlier that month, following the death of a garment worker. The protests drew national attention and led to a violent state crackdown. Rupa and Ahmed were accused of encouraging unrest through their journalism and were later charged with murder, despite no credible evidence linking them to any criminal acts.
Since their arrest, both have remained in custody without trial. Rupa has reportedly been held under particularly harsh conditions, including extended periods in solitary confinement and limited access to legal counsel. Their health has deteriorated, and they have been denied basic due process rights, prompting concerns from international human rights groups.
Their legal team, led by UK-based human rights lawyer Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, describes their prosecution as “retaliatory lawfare”—using the legal system to silence and punish journalists. The complaint to the UN argues that the charges are politically motivated and violate international protections for freedom of expression and fair trial standards.
The case has drawn widespread international criticism. Organizations including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have called for the couple’s immediate release. The arrests occurred during a volatile political transition in Bangladesh, after the fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government. In the aftermath, over 350 journalists have reportedly faced harassment or legal action, with many losing press credentials or being detained.
The UN is now reviewing the case. Advocates are pressing for urgent action, viewing the continued imprisonment of Rupa and Ahmed as a symbol of deepening repression and a warning to all journalists operating in politically fragile states.
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