COMMONWEALTH JOURNALISTS CALL FOR RELEASE OF DETAINED BANGLADESH JOURNALISTS AHEAD OF COURT HEARING
Statement by the Commonwealth Journalists Association Issued on June 28,2026
London: The Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) expresses its deep concern over the continued detention of senior journalists in Bangladesh, including CJA Vice President Shyamal Dutta, Editor of Bhorer Kagoj, as well as Mozammel Haq Babu, Farzana Rupa, and Shakil Ahmed of Ekattor TV.
Dutta is slated to appear before Bangladesh’s High Court on Tuesday. Charges against him include multiple murder cases which we believe are in retaliation for his journalism.
We urge the Government of Bangladesh to honour its stated commitment to media freedom and its election pledge to withdraw politically motivated cases against journalists. We call for the immediate review of the cases against these journalists, the withdrawal of charges where no credible evidence exists, and their prompt release.
The journalists concerned have been detained for more than eighteen months on murder-related allegations. Yet, despite the passage of nearly 600 days, no charge sheets have reportedly been filed and no credible evidence has been publicly presented to substantiate the accusations against them. Such prolonged detention without due process raises serious concerns about the rule of law, press freedom, and the protection of fundamental rights.
The Commonwealth Journalists Association is particularly troubled by reports that these arrests appear to have been influenced by perceived political affiliations rather than demonstrable criminal conduct. Journalism must never be criminalised on the basis of political perceptions or professional associations.
We are also alarmed by the humanitarian implications of their continued detention. Reports indicate that Shyamal Dutta suffers from documented cardiac and severe sleep apnoea conditions that require proper medical assessment and treatment. Mozammel Haq Babu, who underwent major surgery for prostate cancer in late 2023, is reported to have been denied essential follow-up care. Furthermore, the reported placement of Farzana Rupa in a condemnation cell reserved for death-row inmates for a period of two weeks raises serious questions regarding her treatment and welfare while in custody.
The Commonwealth Journalists Association reiterates that all journalists, irrespective of their editorial positions or perceived political leanings, are entitled to due process, humane treatment, and the full protection of the law. We call upon the authorities to ensure that justice is administered fairly, transparently, and without delay.
A free and independent press is an essential pillar of any democratic society. The continued incarceration of journalists without the timely presentation of evidence undermines confidence in democratic institutions and weakens public trust in the justice system.
The Commonwealth Journalists Association therefore calls on the Government of Bangladesh to take immediate steps to resolve these cases in accordance with the principles of justice, due process, and press freedom, including the release of Shyamal Dutta, Mozammel Haq Babu, Farzana Rupa, and Shakil Ahmed.
