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Bangladesh: Rights experts decry ‘appalling’ culture of impunity around killing of journalists |



“A decade after the murder of two journalists, there is still no justice due to the appalling and pervasive culture of punishment in Bangladesh.” Five United Nations Special Rapporteurs speak in a statement.

Mr. Sarowar and Ms. Runi, married, were stabbed to death at their home in the capital, Dhaka, in front of their five-year-old son on February 12, 2012.

Experts say many believe they have been targeted because of their investigative report into Bangladesh’s energy sector corruption they are about to release.

Crime goes unpunished

The Bangladesh Supreme Court has tasked the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the country’s elite police unit, to investigate the incident.

Last November, the Court ordered the 84th RAB to submit its findings, which has yet to happen.

“When crimes against journalists go unpunished, they color the perpetrators and encourage more attacks, threats and murders with the intention of intimidating the media into silence. We see these deeply disturbing signs in Bangladesh,“The statement said.

Bring the perpetrators to justice

According to UN experts, at least 15 journalists have been killed in Bangladesh over the past decade.

“We call on the government to conduct and complete prompt, thorough, independent and effective investigations, and bring the perpetrators to justice for the murders of Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi and other incidents. killing journalists and other human rights defenders in Bangladesh,” their statement said.

UN experts have received numerous reports of journalists, activists and members of civil society groups being detained, assaulted, abducted, threatened and harassed on a judicial basis. arbitrary way.

These incidents rarely seem to be investigated or prosecuted, and in some cases local authorities are believed to be directly involved in the attacks.

The press was attacked

“Journalism should not carry the inherent risk of being attacked, threatened or killed with impunity but unfortunately that is the reality today for many journalists, human rights defenders and members of the public. other members of civil society in Bangladesh,” they said.

Experts have brought allegations to the attention of the Government, which often goes unanswered. Although they Written to the authorities in 2012 after the murders of Mr. Sarowar and Ms. Runi, they received no response.

They further expressed concern about the repeated delays surrounding the February 2017 murder trial of journalist and human rights defender Abdul Hakim Shimul, which is attributed to then-mayor Shahzadpur. . The case was ordered to remain on hold by the High Court, with all the defendants released on bail.

They also recalled the death in custody last February of dissident writer Mushtaq Ahmed, who spent nine months in pre-trial detention on charges under the Technical Security Act. (DSA) for publishing an article critical of the government’s pandemic response.

They said authorities had failed to conduct an independent and objective investigation into his death, despite the family’s concerns that Mr Ahmed had been tortured while in police custody and that there had been three hours delay in getting him to the hospital after he fell ill. .

An internal committee set up by the Home Office has concluded Mr Ahmed’s death was natural, with no need for an investigation into his family’s claims.

UN experts raised their concerns with the government when they raised concerns about his death in custody.

Role of the Rapporteur

The five Special Rapporteurs, who signed this statement, oversee violations of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, as well as issues such as torture and other cruel punishments or treatment, inhuman or degrading to other human beings.

They are designated by the UN Dong Nhan Quyen Association in Geneva and operate in their individual capacity.

They are not employees of the United Nations or they receive salaries from the Organization.



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