Bangladesh Urged to Release Journalists Facing Death Penalty Charges
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) asked Bangladesh on Monday to immediately release two journalists. Farzana Rupa and Mozammel Babu face serious charges. These charges include crimes against humanity. CPJ also called for authorities to drop all charges against them.
Prosecutors in Bangladesh filed a formal charge sheet. This was done at the International Crimes Tribunal. The document names Farzana Rupa and Mozammel Babu. It also names 39 other people, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The case relates to a May 2013 crackdown. This crackdown was on a rally by the Islamic group Hefajat-e-Islam. The rally happened at Shapla Chattar. Reports say 58 people died there.
Ms. Rupa was a senior reporter and presenter for Ekattor TV. Mr. Babu founded Ekattor TV and was its editor-in-chief. Police arrested both journalists on May 14. This was for the crimes against humanity case. ICT Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam said that Ms. Rupa made a TV report for Ekattor TV. He claimed Mr. Babu instructed her. The prosecutor stated this report falsely claimed no one died at Shapla Chattar.
Kunal Majumder is CPJ’s Asia-Pacific Program Coordinator. He said charging journalists for their work is wrong. Mr. Majumder asked authorities to drop the charges. He also urged them to stop using legal actions against the press for political reasons.
CPJ expressed deep worry. If found guilty, Ms. Rupa and Mr. Babu could face the death penalty. This is because the tribunal does not have clear rules for sentencing such offenses.
Both journalists have been in prison since August 2024. They faced separate murder charges linked to 2024 mass protests. A higher court ordered their release on bail for those charges. However, the Supreme Court stopped this order. Even if that order is lifted, the journalists can still be held under the current tribunal case. CPJ sent emails to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Law and the Chief Prosecutor’s Office but received no reply.
