Justice Makers Bangladesh in France strongly condemned the arrest of senior journalist Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury on Saturday. The rights body called his imprisonment a clear act of political persecution.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana Haque sent the DBC News chairman to jail on Thursday. The order followed a petition from the investigating officer in a murder case.
The case stems from the violent July 2024 mass protests in Bangladesh. Public Prosecutor Muhammad Shamsuddoha Chowdhury confirmed the court order to local media outlets.
Sobhan Chowdhury previously served as information advisor to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Rights advocates claim authorities are targeting him solely for his past political identity.
Justice Makers Bangladesh in France expressed grave concern over the weaponization of murder charges. The group stated that criminal law is being abused to silence independent media.
Official court accounts cite no specific evidence showing his direct involvement in the killing. Investigators have failed to show that he issued any instructions regarding the crime.
The organization stressed that past professional ties cannot replace evidence of individual guilt. It warned that holding journalists criminally liable for political affiliations sets a dangerous precedent.
JMBF Founder President Shahanur Islam demanded the immediate release of the veteran journalist. He called the arrest an outrageous abuse of state power by authorities.
Islam noted that this pattern of political persecution began under the interim government. He added that such actions continue to threaten fundamental freedoms across Bangladesh.
The rights group urged the Bangladeshi government to withdraw all pending charges immediately. It insisted that authorities end all prosecutions based on political beliefs or past state roles.
Furthermore, the organization called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to intervene directly. It urged global press freedom bodies to monitor the court proceedings closely.
The rights body asked international monitors to demand full disclosure of evidence. International pressure remains essential to protect journalists and uphold the rule of law.
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