Bangladesh: Farzana Rupa and Husband Arrested While Attempting to Flee Country Following Government Change
Women Press Freedom demands end to retaliatory targeting of journalists. Interim government must release all journalists unjustly detained.
Location: Bangladesh, Dhaka
Date: August 21, 2024Update: January 23, 2025
Women Press Freedom vehemently condemns the targeting of Bangladeshi journalist Farzana Rupa who, along with her husband Shakil Ahmed, was detained after Sheikh Hasina's government was overthrown in August 2024. Charged with murder based on their journalism, they are part of a wider crackdown on journalists perceived as aligned with the previous regime. Since their arrest, they have endured repeated interrogations without legal representation, solitary confinement, and restricted access to family and lawyers. Additional charges have been filed against them, and they have now been incarcerated for over 150 days. Their case has been brought to the United Nations, with international legal teams calling for an end to this politically motivated persecution and for their immediate release. We call for complete transparency regarding the accusations against the journalist couple and their immediate release from detention. Reports of their mistreatment in prison must be investigated. It is crucial for the interim Bangladeshi authorities to ensure an impartial investigation, as it is essential in the provision of justice and upholding the values of press freedom.
Farzana Rupa, a prominent journalist, and her husband were taken into custody on August 20, 2024, while attempting to depart from Bangladesh with their daughter. The couple, both former employees of the television channel Ekattor TV, were arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, according to airport sources. They were en route to Paris, France, via Istanbul on a Turkish Airlines flight when the authorities intervened.
They were accused of incitement to murder due to their journalistic work criticizing the 2024 protests. The charges are widely perceived as a means of silencing dissenting voices in the media.
In January 2025, the journalists took their case of arbitrary detention to the United Nations, highlighting their mistreatment in prison and the deteriorating state of press freedom in Bangladesh. Their lawyers have formally engaged the UN Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, urging intervention in what has been widely condemned as a retaliatory prosecution.
Rupa served as a principal correspondent and anchor, while her husband, Ahmed, held the position of former head of news at Ekattor TV. Both were dismissed from their roles on August 8, following the political upheaval in Bangladesh that resulted in the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after more than a month of deadly protests. These protests, driven by widespread public frustration over corruption and elite control, culminated in violent clashes, claiming over 600 lives and leaving many more injured.
The unrest, led primarily by student movements, forced the resignation of Sheikh Hasina on August 5, ending her 15-year rule. Since then, an interim government has taken over in Dhaka, pledging to address the root causes of the unrest and restore stability. However, the political situation remains fragile.
In this tumultuous environment, journalists have faced increasing threats and violence. Among those assaulted while covering the protests were female journalists Fabeha Monir and Nadia Sharmeen, incidents documented by Women Press Freedom. Earlier this week, an attack on the East West Media Group, followed by an assault on the Chittagong Press Club on August 14 that left 20 journalists injured, underscored growing concerns about the safety of the press.
Women Press Freedom has called for a thorough and transparent investigation, urging the interim government to ensure that the journalists' legal rights are respected.
"Regardless of the charges against Farzana Rupa and her husband, we urge the interim setup in Dhaka to ensure justice," a spokesperson for Women Press Freedom said. "No journalist should be targeted due to charges that indicate political bias, and the law should not be misused to harass them."
As Bangladesh navigates this period of uncertainty, the international community will be watching closely to see how the interim government handles cases involving journalists and whether it upholds the principles of democracy and press freedom.
Women Press Freedom demands the interim government of Bangladesh release Farzana Rupa and her husband and investigate reports of their mistreatment in prison. We urge the new administration to follow through on the promises it made when Hasina was overthrown, ensuring the country is democratic, respects human rights and is free from corruption. Any attempt to use the legal system to exert political pressure or to retaliate against journalists for their work would be a grave violation of democratic principles and freedom of the press.
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