Press & Public Statement: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Abduction and Rape of Two Sexual Minority Individuals in Rangpur and Narayanganj

Paris, France | March 16, 2025: The France-based human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) strongly condemns the recent brutal acts of abduction and rape committed against two sexual minority individuals in Rangpur and Narayanganj, Bangladesh, on March 3 and March 8, 2025, respectively. The abduction, rape, and blackmail of a young man in Rangpur, along with the rape of another in Narayanganj, are appalling violations of human rights and stark reminders of the systemic discrimination and violence faced by LGBTQI+ individuals in Bangladesh.

JMBF asserts that these horrific acts highlight the urgent need for stronger legal protections, immediate judicial action, and societal change to ensure justice and safety for sexual minorities in Bangladesh. The perpetrators of such heinous crimes must be held fully accountable, and law enforcement agencies must take swift and uncompromising action to prevent further victimization.

Press & Public Statement: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Communal Violence in Bangladesh and Protests Against Government Denial

Paris, France: February 5, 2025: The France-based legal and human rights organization, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), strongly condemns the alarming rise in communal violence targeting religious and ethnic minorities in Bangladesh between August 21, 2024, and December 31, 2024. According to credible reports from the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, 174 incidents of violence occurred during this period, resulting in the tragic deaths of 23 individuals from minority communities. These atrocities included 9 horrific cases of torture, rape, and gang rape of women, attacks on 64 places of worship, the destruction and looting of 38 homes and businesses, and the forcible occupation of 25 properties. Additionally, 15 individuals were arrested and tortured on baseless allegations of insulting religion.

JMBF asserts that such systematic violence against minority communities is a blatant violation of fundamental human rights and an assault on the principles of justice, equality, and religious freedom. It is deeply disturbing that, instead of addressing these grave issues, the interim government of Bangladesh, through the Chief Advisor's Press Wing, has chosen to deny and dismiss these incidents as mere political propaganda.