JMBF Raises Alarm Over Human Rights Violations in Bangladesh During Meeting with French Foreign Ministry

"Please read the French and Bengali versions below"

Paris, France | April 30, 2025 — ​JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a Paris-based human rights organization, has expressed serious concerns over the escalating human rights crisis in Bangladesh during a bilateral meeting with the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.​

On April 29, 2025, Advocate Shahanur Islam, Founder-President of JMBF, met in Paris with Madame Marjorie Verley, Deputy Head of the South Asia Division and Head of the Bangladesh Desk at the French Foreign Ministry. The meeting focused on what JMBF described as a pattern of "widespread and systematic repression" under the country's interim government, led by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus.​

Press & Public Statement: JMBF Strongly Condemns Dismissal of Journalists in Bangladesh for Questioning Cultural Affairs Adviser: Calls for Immediate Reinstatement and Protection of Press Freedom

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Paris, France | April 30, 2025 — France-based human rights watchdog, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), strongly condemns the arbitrary dismissal of three journalists—Mizanur Rahman (Deepto TV), Fazle Rabbi(ATN Bangla), and Rafiqul Bashar (Channel i)—following their professional conduct in questioning Bangladesh’s Cultural Affairs Adviser, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, during a press conference held on April 28, 2025.

The subsequent suspension of news broadcasts by Deepto TV and punitive actions taken by three major television networks, apparently under pressure from online threats issued by a group identifying as the July Revolutionary Alliance (JRA), represents a grave attack on press freedom, democratic accountability, and the fundamental human rights guaranteed under Bangladesh’s Constitution and international law.

JMBF Holds Bilateral Meeting with French MP Pouria Amirshahi to Address Human Rights Concerns in Bangladesh

"Please read the French and Bengali versions below"

Paris, April 25, 2025 — JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) held a bilateral meeting today at 3:00 PM in Paris with Mr. Pouria Amirshahi, Member of the French National Assembly and President of the France-Bangladesh Friendship Group. The meeting focused on growing concerns regarding human rights violations and democratic backsliding in Bangladesh under the current interim government.

JMBF was represented by its Founder and President, prominent Bangladeshi human rights lawyer Advocate Shahanur Islam, and Chief Adviser Robert Simon, a renowned French human rights activist.

Press & Public Statement: JMBF Strongly Condemns Politically Motivated Murder Case Against Eight Prominent Journalists in Dhaka

Paris, France; March 29, 2025 – JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a France-based human rights watchdog, expresses grave concern and strong protest over the politically motivated and baseless case filed against eight distinguished journalists in Dhaka, accusing them of involvement in the tragic deaths and injuries during the July uprising on July 19, 2024. JMBF unequivocally condemns the filing of this case, which is a clear attempt to silence independent media voices and suppress the fundamental right to freedom of expression.

STATEMENT: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Unjust Dismissal of Five Journalists from Somoy TV under Alleged Pressure by Leader of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement

Paris, France; December 28, 2024: France-based human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) strongly condemns the reported dismissal of five journalists from Somoy TV on December 22, 2024, following alleged undue pressure exerted by Hasnat Abdullah, a prominent figure in the anti-discrimination student movement, on December 17, 2024.The dismissed journalists include Chief Input Editor Omar Faruk, Chief Output Editor Ariful Sajjad, Digital Head Kamal Shahriar, Associate Special Reporter Debashish Roy, and Senior Reporter Bulbul Reza.

Simultaneously, JMBF condemns the recent attacks on Daily Prothom Alo, Daily Star, and the banning of journalists from entering the Bangladesh Secretariat by canceling their press accreditation cards.

STATEMENT: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Recent Cancellation of Press Accreditation Cards for 167 Journalists by the Interim Government of Bangladesh

Paris, France; November 10, 2024 — JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) unequivocally condemns the recent cancellation of press accreditation cards for 167 professional journalists by the Directorate of Information (PID) under the interim government of Dr. Mohammad Yunus. This decision, implemented in three phases, represents an alarming violation of fundamental principles enshrined in both national and international law, jeopardizing the essence of free speech and press freedom—cornerstones of any democratic society.

STATEMENT: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Politically Motivated Arbitrary Arrests of Prominent Cultural Figures, Journalists, and Lawyers in Bangladesh

Paris, France; September 18, 2024: France-based human rights organization, Justicemakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), has expressed profound concern over the politically motivated arbitrary arrests of prominent cultural activist Asaduzzaman Noor, writer and researcher Shahriar Kabir, Supreme Court lawyers Nurul Islam Sujan and Mahbub Ali, and journalists Mozammel Babu and Shyamal Dutta. JMBF is calling for the unconditional release of these distinguished cultural figures, writers, journalists, and lawyers, as well as the immediate withdrawal of all baseless charges filed against them

STATEMENT: JMBF Strongly Condemns Widespread Politically Motivated Legal Actions Against Journalists in Bangladesh

Paris, France – September 3, 2024: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses its profound concern and strong condemnation regarding the recent alarming wave of politically motivated, false, and fabricated legal actions taken against journalists in Bangladesh following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime on August 5, 2024.

STATEMENT: JMBF Condemns Baseless Murder Charges Against Journalists: Calls for Uphold Press Freedom in Bangladesh

Paris, France; August 26, 2024: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses grave concern and categorically condemns the baseless and politically motivated murder case filed against seven esteemed journalists, including Mozammel Haque Babu, Syed Ishtiaque Reza, Ahmed Jobaer, Munni Saha, Farzana Rupa, Shakil Ahmed, and Nayeemul Islam Khan, on August 22, 2024. The charges leveled against these journalists in connection with the tragic death of a student during the protests in Jatrabari on July 19, 2024, are not only absurd but also a grave injustice.

JusticeMakers Bangladesh Demands Immediate Withdrawal of DSA Case against Jahangir Alam

[Dhaka, Bangladesh] - JusticeMakers Bangladesh, a prominent human rights organization dedicated to upholding justice and protecting freedom of expression, is deeply concerned about the recent case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA) against Mohd Jahangir Alam, a special correspondent of the news agency United News Bangladesh (UNB) and former vice president of JusticeMakers Bangladesh.

JusticeMakers Bangladesh strongly condemns this act and demands the immediate withdrawal of the case. JusticeMakers Bangladesh also urges the authorities to reevaluate the application of this law and take immediate steps to safeguard the freedom of the press and protect the rights of journalists and human rights defenders.