JMBF Founder Shahanur Islam Presents Landmark Paper on Queer Asylum at Major European Conference

“বাংলা ভাষার সম্পূর্ণ সংস্করণ দেখার জন্য, নিচে স্ক্রল করে ‘More’ এ ক্লিক করুন।” "Pour consulter les versions complètes en français, faites défiler vers le bas et cliquez sur ‘Voir plus’.”

Paris, France | 21 December 2025: Advocate Shahanur Islam, Founder President of the JusticeMakers Bangladesh Foundation (JMBF), presented a landmark paper at Shaping Tomorrow: Queer Asylum in Europe, a high-level international conference held in Amsterdam on 20 and 21 November 2025, organised by COC Netherlands.

The conference brought together activists, scholars, legal professionals, LGBTQI+ community organizers, and refugees to examine the rapidly evolving landscape of LGBTIQ+ asylum in Europe. Discussions focused on the impact of shifting asylum policies, changing societal attitudes, political discourse, and the introduction of the EU Migration Pacton people seeking protection due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.

JMBF & HRDP Jointly Celebrate International Human Rights Day 2025

“বাংলা ভাষার সম্পূর্ণ সংস্করণ দেখার জন্য, নিচে স্ক্রল করে ‘More’ এ ক্লিক করুন।” "Pour consulter les versions complètes en français, faites défiler vers le bas et cliquez sur ‘Voir plus’.”

Paris, France | December 11, 2025: The Paris-based human rights organisation JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) and the Khulna-based organisation Human Rights Development Project (HRDP) jointly commemorated International Human Rights Day 2025 on December 10 through coordinated activities in both France and Bangladesh.

JMBF Founder President Raises Concern at UN Forum on Minority Issues in Geneva

Geneva, Switzerland; November 27, 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF)’s Founder President, Advocate Shahanur Islam, delivered a strong oral statement on 27 November 2025 at the United Nations 18th Forum on Minority Issues, highlighting the deteriorating human rights situation facing minority communities in Bangladesh. During his statement, he expressed deep concern over the increasing levels of discrimination, intimidation, and targeted persecution.

Law Society of England and Wales Condemns Targeting of Lawyers in Bangladesh

"Pour consulter les versions complètes en français, faites défiler vers le bas et cliquez sur ‘Voir plus’.”

Paris, 22 November 2025: The Law Society of England and Wales, representing over 200,000 lawyers, has expressed grave concern over the escalating harassment and reprisals against legal professionals in Bangladesh. 

On 20 November 2025, the Society’s President, Mr. Mark Evans, sent an urgent letter to Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Honourable Chief Adviser of the Interim Government of Bangladesh; Ms. Sarah Cooke, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh; and Prof. Margaret Satterthwaite, UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers (OHCHR-UNOG), Geneva.

JMBF Confirms Swiss Journalist Charlotte Jacquemart as Adviser

Paris,France; 19 November 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) has officially approved Ms. Charlotte Jacquemart, a distinguished Swiss journalist and human rights advocate, to serve as Adviser to the organization under Article 13.1 of its constitution. The confirmation was made on 15 November 2025 during JMBF’s executive meeting, marking a significant strengthening of the organization’s leadership team.

Ms. Jacquemart brings more than two decades of experience in investigative journalism, human rights advocacy, and ethical media practices. A veteran journalist at Swiss Public Radio (SRF) since 2017, she is widely recognized for her commitment to human rights, democratic values, social justice, and freedom of expression—including press freedom, artistic expression, and opinion rights.

Shahanur Islam Represents JMBF at the IGLYO Annual Members’ Conference (AMC) 2025 in Zurich

“বাংলা ভাষার সম্পূর্ণ সংস্করণ দেখার জন্য, নিচে স্ক্রল করে ‘More’ এ ক্লিক করুন।” "Pour consulter les versions complètes en français, faites défiler vers le bas et cliquez sur ‘Voir plus’.”

Paris, France; November 21, 2025: Advocate Shahanur Islam, Founder President of JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), participated in the IGLYO Annual Members’ Conference (AMC) 2025, held in Zurich in collaboration with local member organisation Milchjugend. The gathering brought together more than 70 LGBTQI youth activists from across Europe, reaffirming IGLYO’s role as one of the world’s largest networks of queer youth organisations.

PRESS RELEASE: JMBF Releases 2025 Report on Crackdown Against Independence of Lawyers in Bangladesh under the Interim Government

“বাংলা ভাষার সম্পূর্ণ সংবাদ বিজ্ঞপ্তি পড়ার জন্য নিচে স্ক্রল করে ‘More’ এ ক্লিক করুন।” « Faites défiler vers le bas et cliquez sur “More” pour lire le communiqué de presse complet en français. »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Paris, October 30, 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), with the technical support of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), today released its groundbreaking report,“JMBF Report 2025: Crackdown Against Independence of Lawyers in Bangladesh under the Interim Government (August 2024 – September 2025).” 

JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) Joins the Plateforme Droits de l’Homme (PDH)

Paris, France; October 4, 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) received formal membership in the Plateforme Droits de l’Homme (PDH), a collective of French NGOs dedicated to promoting and defending human rights internationally, on October 1, 2025.

The PDH, established in 2017, provides a vital space for collaboration, exchange, and mutual support among French NGOs engaged in international human rights work. By joining PDH, JMBF aims to strengthen its connections with other civil society actors, enhance its visibility, and contribute to collective efforts in advocacy and human rights promotion.

Bangladesh Rights Abuses Raised at UN: JMBF President Meets OHCHR and Special Rapporteur in Geneva

“বাংলা ভাষার সম্পূর্ণ সংস্করণ দেখার জন্য, নিচে স্ক্রল করে ‘More’ এ ক্লিক করুন।” "Pour consulter les versions complètes en français, faites défiler vers le bas et cliquez sur ‘Voir plus’.”

Geneva, Switzerland; October 2, 2025: The worsening human rights situation in Bangladesh has been brought before top UN officials in Geneva, as Advocate Shahanur Islam, President of JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), held bilateral meeting with senior representatives of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers.

JMBF Quarterly eNewsletter: July-September 2025

11. JMBF Quarterly eNewsletter: July-September 2025 by JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF)

PRESS RELEASE: JMBF Releases Its Annual State of Extrajudicial Killings and Custodial Deaths under the Interim Government in Bangladesh

To read the Bengali and French versions, please scroll down and click ‘More’

Paris, France – August 25, 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) today released its Annual Report 2025: An Up-To-Date State of Extrajudicial Killings and Custodial Deaths Under the Interim Government in Bangladesh (August 2024 – July 2025), presenting a grim account of widespread human rights violations under the Yunus-led interim administration.

The report, researched by Mosa Jannatul Ferdaus and edited by Advocate Shahanur Islam, documents 60 incidents resulting in 70 victims of extrajudicial killings and custodial deaths carried out by law enforcement agencies, prison authorities, and other security forces across Bangladesh.

The report has been published from Paris, France, with an official press release circulated via email communication. It is also available on JMBF’s official website, Facebook page, LinkedIn, and Twitter/X accounts.

The report states that despite assuming power in August 2024 with pledges to restore democracy, good governance, and human rights, the Yunus government has presided over what JMBF describes as a systematic pattern of repression, impunity, and political persecution.

JMBF Leaders Raise Alarming Concerns over Violence against LGBTQI+ People in Bangladesh at International Conference in France

To read the Bengali and French versions, please scroll down and click ‘More’

Paris, France; August 22, 2025: Advocate Shahanur Islam, Founder President of JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), and Advocate Mohammad Alamgir, Secretary General of JMBF, joined the 2025 Euro-Mediterranean Summer Universities of Homosexualities (UEEH), held from August 10 to 21, 2025, in Vic-en-Bigorre, France.

UEEH, first launched in 1979, is one of the world’s longest-standing international initiatives created entirely by and for LGBTQIA+ communities. Unlike conventional conferences, it functions as a self-organized grassroots gathering, where participants live and work together in a setting rooted in solidarity, inclusivity, and mutual respect. Over the years, it has become a vital platform for knowledge exchange, activism, and community building across Europe, the Mediterranean, and beyond.

The Relentless Defender: How Advocate Shahanur Islam Became the Conscience of Bangladesh’s Legal Resistance

In the shadows of courtrooms and far from the glow of headlines, one man continues to risk his life for the rule of law. Advocate Shahanur Islam, a veteran Bangladeshi human rights lawyer, has spent the last two decades challenging a legal system plagued by corruption, police brutality, and discrimination. Now living in exile, his voice echoes louder than ever through legal reports, international appeals, and grassroots activism.

The Making of a Maverick

Born in northern Bangladesh, Islam's journey to law was not one of privilege, but of purpose. By his late twenties, he had already founded the JusticeMakers Bangladesh (JMBD) and later the international platform JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF). Through these initiatives, he began documenting torture, false arrests, and violence against vulnerable communities.

“Justice isn’t just an idea—it’s a fight,” Islam says. “And it’s a fight we cannot afford to lose.”

JMBF Quarterly eNewsletter: April-June 2025

10. JMBF Quarterly eNewsletter: April-June 2025 by JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF)

FRANCE: JMBF and SIL Participate in “Paris Parade 2025” — The Largest Annual LGBTQI+ March in Paris

To read the Bengali and French versions, please scroll down and click ‘More’.

Paris, France; June 29, 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), the only France-based human rights organization advocating for the rights of Bangladeshi LGBTQI+ individuals, and Solidarity International LGBTQI (SIL), an organization working globally for LGBTQI+ rights, proudly participated in “Paris Parade 2025,” the largest annual LGBTQI+ march held in Paris.

The vibrant event took place on June 28, beginning at 2 PM from the historic Louvre Museum and continuing to Nation Square, bringing together a sea of participants in a powerful demonstration of solidarity.

JMBF Secretary General Attends Queer Film Screening at French Ambassador’s Residence in Dhaka

Dhaka, Bangladesh; June 25, 2025: Advocate Mohammad Alamgir, Secretary General of JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), attended a special queer film screening hosted by the Embassy of France in Dhaka, held at the official residence of Her Excellency Ms. Marie Masdupuy, Ambassador of France to Bangladesh.

The event was organized as part of Queer Week 2025, a global initiative celebrating LGBTQI+ culture, identity, and rights through art and dialogue. The French Embassy’s initiative offered a safe and inclusive space for conversation and representation of queer voices through cinema.

পবিত্র ঈদ উল আযহার শুভেচ্ছা ও অভিনন্দন!

*********************************************************************************** JMBF is an independent non-profit, nonpartisan human rights organization registered in France with registration number W931027714 under the association law of 1901, dedicated to defending human rights, fighting for justice, and empowering communities in Bangladesh and beyond.

JMBF Celebrates International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia 2025!

To read the Bengali and French versions, scroll below.

Paris, May 18, 2025: France-based human rights organization Justicemakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) has celebrated the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOT) 2025. On May 17, the organization issued a press release and marked the occasion by publishing the “Annual LGBTQI+ Rights Report in Bangladesh – 2024.” As part of the celebration, the organization also organized an international conference titled "Lawyers’ Commitment to Protect LGBTQI+ Rights" on May 13 at the French National Bar Council Conference Room.

JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France Joins International Coalition Against Enforced Disappearances

To read the Bengali and French versions, scroll below.

Paris, May 17, 2025 — JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a France-based human rights organization advocating for justice and accountability in Bangladesh, has officially joined the International Coalition Against Enforced Disappearances (ICAED) as of May 16, 2025, following a formal consultation and approval by the ICAED Executive Committee.

সংবাদ বিজ্ঞপ্তি: মানবাধিকার প্রতিষ্ঠান জেএমবিএফ-এর বাংলাদেশের বার্ষিক সমকামী অধিকার প্রতিবেদন ২০২৪ প্রকাশ

সম্পূর্ণ প্রতিবেদনটি পড়তে এখানে ক্লিক করুন: বাংলাদেশে এলজিবিটিকিউআই+ অধিকার বিষয়ক বাৎসরিক প্রতিবেদন ২০২৪।

প্যারিস, ১৭ মে ২০২৫: ফ্রান্সভিত্তিক মানবাধিকার সংগঠন জাস্টিসমেকার্স বাংলাদেশ ইন ফ্রান্স (জেএমবিএফ) আজ ‘বাংলাদেশের বার্ষিক সমকামী অধিকার প্রতিবেদন ২০২৪’ আনুষ্ঠানিকভাবে প্রকাশ করেছে। ফ্রান্সের রাজধানী প্যারিস থেকে এক সংবাদ বিজ্ঞপ্তির মাধ্যমে সংগঠনটি ২০২৪ সালের জানুয়ারি থেকে ডিসেম্বর পর্যন্ত সময়কালে বাংলাদেশে এলজিবিটিকিউআই+ সম্প্রদায়ের ওপর সংঘটিত সহিংসতা, নিপীড়ন ও বৈষম্যমূলক আচরণের বিস্তারিত চিত্র তুলে ধরে।

প্রতিবেদনটি বাংলাদেশের বিভিন্ন জাতীয় ও আঞ্চলিক পত্রিকা, অনলাইন সংবাদমাধ্যম এবং জেএমবিএফ-এর নিজস্ব অনুসন্ধান ও তথ্যভাণ্ডারের ভিত্তিতে প্রস্তুত করা হয়েছে বলে বিজ্ঞপ্তিতে উল্লেখ করা হয়েছে। এতে লেসবিয়ান, গে, ট্রান্সজেন্ডার, ইন্টারসেক্স এবং যৌন সংখ্যালঘু অন্যান্য ব্যক্তিদের ওপর সংঘটিত হত্যাকাণ্ড, শারীরিক নির্যাতন, আত্মহত্যা, পুলিশি হয়রানি, গ্রেপ্তার, মিথ্যা মামলাসহ নানা রকম মানবাধিকার লঙ্ঘনের তথ্য উপস্থাপিত হয়েছে।