The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has written to Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman, urging the new government to fulfill its election promise to withdraw ‘politically motivated’ cases against journalists, and to drop charges and release Mozammel Haq Babu, Shyamal Dutta, Farzana Rupa and Shakil Ahmed.
The journalists have been detained for more than 18 months on murder charges, for which no credible evidence has been presented and no charge sheet served, CPJ said.
In the letter on Monday, CPJ noted that the journalists’ arrests under the previous government appeared to be in retaliation for perceived political affiliations.
In almost 600 days, and in violation of legal regulations, the police have failed to file charge sheets substantiating the charges on which the journalists were arrested.
CPJ also raised ‘serious humanitarian concerns’ and said Dutta has documented cardiac and severe sleep apnea conditions that remain unassessed.
On the other hand, Babu underwent major invasive surgery for prostate cancer in late 2023, but has not received follow-up care, CPJ said.
It said Rupa was held for two weeks in November 2024 in a “condemnation cell” reserved for death-row inmates.
The CPJ also shared with Attorney General Barrister Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon.