JMBF Statement on International Lesbian Visibility Day 2025

"Please read the French and Bengali versions below"

Paris, France; April 26, 2025: Today, on International Lesbian Visibility Day 2025, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) stands in steadfast solidarity with lesbians across the globe — especially with those in Bangladesh who continue to live, love, and resist under immense pressure and threat.

In Bangladesh, being a lesbian often means facing a life of secrecy, fear, and discrimination. The silence surrounding their struggles is not a choice but a survival strategy in a society that criminalizes same-sex love and perpetuates deeply rooted homophobia. Despite these immense challenges, countless lesbian individuals in Bangladesh persist with extraordinary courage.

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 Condemns the Arrest of Lady Biker Esha: A Disturbing Act of Homophobic Injustice

"Please read the French version below"

Paris, France | March 25, 2025:  France-based human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses its deepest concern and strongest condemnation regarding the recent arrest and imprisonment of Irin Jahan Esha Sheikh, widely known as the “Lady Biker,” in Khulna, Bangladesh.

It has become increasingly evident that Esha was not detained based on any credible evidence of criminal activity, but was instead targeted because of her identity as a lesbian and her consensual romantic relationship with another woman. This case represents yet another tragic instance of the criminalization of same-sex relationships and the systematic persecution of sexual minorities in Bangladesh.

JMBF Holds Key Meetings with Amnesty International France and ARDHIS in Paris

"Please read the French and Bengali versions below"

Paris, April 24, 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) held two bilateral meetings in Paris on Wednesday (April 23, 2025) with Amnesty International France and the Association for the Recognition of the Rights of Homosexual and Trans Persons to Immigration and Residence (ARDHIS). The discussions focused on the deteriorating state of LGBTQI+ rights in Bangladesh and potential avenues for international collaboration.

Press & Public Statement: JMBF Strongly Condemns RAB’s Extrajudicial Killing of Siam Molla in Barishal

"Read the French and Bengali versions of the statement below."

Paris, France; April 22, 2025: France-based human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep concern and outrage over the brutal killing of Siam Molla, a young man from Barisal, and the critical injury of Rakib Molla, a Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinee, during an alleged anti-drug operation carried out by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on the evening of Monday, April 21, in the Ratnapur area of Agoiljhara upazila, Barishal.

Press & Public Statement: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Detention and Humiliation of Lawyers in Comilla as a Dangerous Erosion of the Rule of Law in Bangladesh

Paris, France | April 21, 2025: France-based human rights organization, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), expresses grave concern and unequivocal condemnation over the recent detention and public humiliation of six respected lawyers in Comilla, Bangladesh, today on April 21, 2025, in connection with what appears to be a politically motivated and fabricated case arising from the anti-discrimination student movement of August 2024.

Today, on April 21, 2025, six senior members of the Comilla Bar Association—including former presidents and secretaries—were ordered into judicial custody by Senior District and Sessions Judge Md. Mahbubur Rahman. Among those detained are Advocate Mostafizur Rahman Liton, Advocate Jahangir Alam Bhuiyan, Advocate Zakir Hossain, and Advocate Saiful Islam. These individuals are not only distinguished members of the legal profession but also long-standing defenders of justice, constitutional rights, and human dignity in their communities.