চট্রগ্রামে যৌন সংখ্যালঘু সমকামী কিশোরকে নির্যাতন, নগ্ন করে ভিডিও ধারণ ও চাঁদা আদায়ের ঘটনায় মানবাধিকার প্রতিষ্ঠান বিআইএইচআর এবং জাস্টিসমেকার্স বাংলাদেশ উদ্বিগ্ন।

চট্রগ্রামে রিয়াজ উদ্দীন বাজারে গগন মার্কেটের দ্বিতীয় তলায় যৌন সংখ্যালঘু সমকামী গে কিশোরকে নির্যাতনপূর্বক নগ্ন করে ভিডিও ধারণ ও ব্ল্যাক মেইলিং করে চাঁদা আদায়ের ঘটনায় মানবাধিকার প্রতিষ্ঠান বাংলাদেশ ইনস্টিটিউট অব হিউম্যান রাইটস (বিআইএইচআর) এবং জাস্টিসমেকার্স বাংলাদেশ গভীর উদ্বেগ প্রকাশ করেছে।

একই সাথে উক্ত ঘটনার সাথে জড়িত অপরাধীদের দ্রুত গ্রেফতার পূর্বক দৃষ্ঠান্তমূলক শাস্তি প্রদানের জোড় দাবী জানিয়েছে বিআইএইচআর এবং জাস্টিসমেকার্স বাংলাদেশ ।

Freemuse, BIHR and JusticeMakers Bangladesh Joint call to end the investigation of band Meghdol

Image: Screenshot from Meghdol’s music video
 Esho Amar Shohore / Meghdol on YouTube

On 31 October 2021, the Metropolitan Magistrate Court ordered the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to investigate members of the rock band Meghdol three days after a legal complaint was filed against them for allegedly insulting “religious sentiments” during one of their performances.

“Investigating members of the band Meghdol over their music is in clear violation of the musicians’ human right to freely express themselves artistically,” said Gerd Elmark, Freemuse Interim Executive Director. “The right to freedom of expression is guaranteed by Article 19 of the ICCPR and should be protected. Artists should not be subjected to legal prosecution for their political beliefs or stances towards religion. We call on the Bangladeshi authorities to end the investigation against Meghdol.”

“We are gravely concerned over the incident of investigating members of music group Meghdol for hurting religious sentiment. […] Instead of constitution guaranteeing freedom of artistic expression as free-thinking, artists and activists are continuously facing obstacles and barriers to exercise their constitutional rights by state and non-state actors in Bangladesh. […],” said Shahanur Islam, Secretary General, Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and JusticeMakers Bangladesh. “We are urging the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to do everything in her power to ensure to drop the case against members of Meghdol after a full and impartial investigation into the reported case […].”

CCBE urges for impartial investigation into attack against Lawyer Shahanur Islam!

The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) urges Prime Minister of Bangladesh H.E. Sheikh Hasina to do everything in her power to ensure that a full and impartial investigation into the reported attack is being carried out, with a view to bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards, as well as to ensure the safety of lawyer Shahanur Islam and his family members, since they believe that the continuous harassment against Mr. Shahanur Islam is based solely on his legitimate activities as a human rights lawyer.

The CCBE also express its serious concern over the prosecution and continuous harassment of lawyer Shahanur Islam as well as draw attention to the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, in particular Principles 16, 17 and 18 on Guarantees for the functioning of lawyers and Principle 23 on Freedom of expression and association.

BIHR Joint Statement: No Climate Justice without Debt Justice

The climate emergency is fuelling the accumulation of debt in countries in the global south.

Countries suffering from the worst impacts of climate change have contributed very little to it, yet they are facing more expensive borrowing costs because of their climate vulnerabilities. They are left with almost no option but to borrow to finance climate mitigation and adaptation, and fund reconstruction and recovery after an extreme climate event. Countries that have accumulated unsustainable debt levels have reduced fiscal space and opportunities to invest in adaptation and mitigation, as well as to recover from loss and damage from increasingly severe climate extreme events, slow onset events and environmental hazards. At the same time, climate finance - which should respond to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, as formulated in the 1992 Rio Principles to reflect historical climate debt - is being delivered mainly through loans and debt-creating modalities, placing the financial burden onto the shoulders of the global south.

Shahanur Islam speaks on Deadly Religious Violence in Bangladesh

Advocate Shahanur Islam Saikot, Secretary General of JusticeMakers Bangladesh and Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights speaks with Radio Islam International, South Africa on Deadly Religious Violence Bangladesh.

To hear the interview please visit the link: 

https://radioislam.org.za/a/adv-shahanur-islam-saikot-hundreds-protest-in-bangladesh-over-deadly-religious-violence/

============================================================ Advocate Shahanur Islam | An Young, Ascendant, Dedicated Human Rights Defender, Lawyer and Blogger in Bangladesh, Fighting for Ensuring Human Rights, Rule of Law, Good Governance, Peace and Social Justice For the Victim of Torture, Extra Judicial Killing, Force Disappearance, Trafficking in Persons including Ethnic, Religious, Sexual and Social Minority People.

BIHR Joint Statement on the Occasion of World Day Against Death Penalty 2021

As we mark the 19th World Day Against the Death Penalty dedicated to women facing capital punishment, who have been sentenced to death, who have been executed or who have been pardoned or found not guilty, the members of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty and allies of women sentenced to death take this opportunity to:

BIHR and JusticeMakers Bangladesh Joint statement: BUILDING BACK BETTER FOR STATELESS PEOPLE

In June 2020, JusticeMakers Bangladesh along with 84 other civil society actors issued a joint statement ‘In Solidarity with the Stateless’ calling on: States, UN agencies, human rights, humanitarian and public health actors, donors and the media to address the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on stateless people and those at risk of statelessness. One year on, the concerns expressed in that statement remain largely unaddressed, with the situation of stateless people further deteriorating, partly due to failures to acknowledge and respond to their specific contexts and uphold their rights. Moreover, new concerns and challenges, particularly around vaccine inequity, have also emerged. The 106 civil society actors, co-signatories to this statement, are deeply concerned that many States and other key stakeholders have been unable or unwilling to learn from past mistakes and have failed to adequately prioritise and resource the practical steps that can and must be taken to protect stateless people and the right to nationality.

BIHR and JusticeMakers Bangladesh Celebrates Music Freedom day 2021

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights along with its partner organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh and Human Rights Development Project, Khulna celebrates the Music Freedom Day 2021 at Naogaon and Khulna today on 03 March 2021. The celebration of music freedom day is coordinated and supported by Freemuse, Denmark. They celebrates the day in Bangladesh with human chain, rally, dissuasion meeting as well as performing open air stage show by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender artists

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights along with its partner organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh and Human Rights Development Project, Khulna celebrates the Music Freedom Day 2021 at Naogaon and Khulna today. The celebration of music freedom day is coordinated and supported by Freemuse, Denmark. They celebrates the day in Bangladesh with human chain, rally, dissuasion meeting as well as performing open air stage show by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender artists.

Press release: Support for Colleague Shahanur Islam

This press release publish in Italian and English, from the Threatened Lawyers Observatory in support of the lawyer Shahanur Islam, defender of human rights.

Shahanur Islam is a lawyer, human rights defender, and blogger from Bangladesh. He is Secretary General and Honorary Executive Director of the Bangladesh Institute for Human Rights (BIHR) and founder of JusticeMakers Bangladesh. His work focuses in particular on minority rights, LGBT rights and cases of torture, killings and enforced disappearances by law enforcement.

Due to its activity, Islam has received many threats, has been attacked, hindered and even attacked, as well as involved in falsely constructed cases.

Statement: Ensure the protection of Human Rights Lawyer Mr. Shahanur Islam

TERRORIST ATTACK ON RIGHTS LAWYER IN BANGLADESH

Ensure the protection of Human Rights Lawyer Mr. Shahanur Islam as well as ensure exemplary punishment of Md. Jahurul Islm, his son Jobayer Hossain and other culprits.

The Monitoring Committee on Attacks on Lawyers of the International Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL), Paris Bar (Barreau de Paris), France, Pan African Human Rights Defenders Network, Soth Africa, South Asian Network for Refugees IDPs & Migrants (SANRIM), Srilanka , Twin Cities Nonviolent, USA, International CURE, Washington, DC, USA, Rights First International, UK, Free Trade Union Centre of Srilanka, Human Rights Alliance Bangladesh (HRAB), Bangladesh Centre for Human Rights and Development (BCHRD), Manab Unnayan Kendra (MUk), Meherpur, Bangladesh, Human Rights Development Project (HRDP), Kulna, Bangladesh, Plain Welfare Truth Foundation, Naogaon, Bangladesh, Law for Nation, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Nice Foundation, Khulna, Bangladesh, Amader Ain, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR), JusticeMakers Bangladesh , Lawyers for Lawyers Bangladesh and others prominent international and national human rights and development expert and lawyers condemn the terrorist attack on human rights lawyer Mr. Shahanur Islam in Bangladesh and call for exemplary punishment against the culprit after a quick and impartial investigation.

Terrorist Attack on Human Rights Lawyer Mr. Shahanur Islam at Naogaon Court

Shahanur Islam

On 26th of August 2020 around at 1:25 pm, Mr. Shahanur Islam, a human rights lawyer in Bangladesh was attacked by a group of politically-motivated terrorists at the court premises of Naogaon district in the northern part of Bangladesh.

Mr. Islam was taking part in the hearing against Md. Jahurul Islam, Member of District Parishad (district level highest local government unit), Naogaon alleging forgery of court document (forgery of signature of court issued summons) at the learned Judicial Magistrate Cognizance Court No. 05, Naogaon and the learned court ordered him to jail custody. The police then took him out from the court room.

BANGLADESH: 25 International organizations and individuals condemn the murder of lawyer Asadul Hoque

The Committee on Attacks on Lawyers, International Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL), Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR), JusticeMakers Bangladesh, Lawyers for Lawyers Bangladesh and Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada (LRWC) condemn the murder of senior lawyer Mr. Asadul Hoque in Bangladesh and call for exemplary punishment against the culprit after quick and impartial investigation.

Call for an investigation into Bangladesh Baul music room fire

On 18 May 2020, the Ashor Ghor (music room) of Baul singer Ranesh Thakur was set on fire in an apparent arson attack, reported the Dhaka Tribune. Reports suggest that the incident occurred in the Sunamganj district Derai Upazila and resulted in the building structure and its musical contents, such as monochords, harmoniums and drums, being burnt to ashes by unidentified persons.

BIHR Celebrates Music Freedom Day 2020 in Bangladesh

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights along with its partner organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh and Ekushe Parishad, Naogaon celebrates the Music Freedom Day 2020 at Naogaon today. The celebration of music freedom day is coordinated and supported by Freemuse. They music freedom day celebrates in Bangladesh first ever time.

টাংগাইলে বাউল সংগীত শিল্পী গ্রেফতারে বিআইএইচআর গভীরভাবে উদ্বিগ্ন!

ধর্মীয় অনুভুতিতে আঘাত আনার অভিযোগে গত ১১ জানুয়ারী ২০২০ সালে টাঙ্গাইলে বাউল সংগীত শিল্পী শরিয়ত বয়াতী গ্রেফতারেবাংলাদেশ ইন্সটিটিউট অব হিউম্যান রাইটস ( বি আইএইচআর)গভীরভাবে উদ্বিগ্ন। বিআইএইচআর এর মহাসচিব অ্যাডভোকেট শাহানূর ইসলাম সৈকত বাউল শিল্পী শরিয়ত বয়াতী গ্রেফতারে তীব্র নিন্দা ও প্রতিবাদ জানিয়েছেন।

ভাল নেই বাংলাদেশের সমকামীরা!

কেমন আছেন এদেশে সমকামীরা? পারিবারিক-সামাজিক নেতিবাচক দৃষ্টিভঙ্গি, রাষ্ট্রের অসহযোগিতা, আইন, নিরাপত্তাহীনতা, সব মিলিয়ে বেশ কোণঠাসা হয়ে আছেন তারা। এমনকি সমকামীরা ক্রমশ নিগৃহীত হচ্ছেন, হতাশায় আত্মহননের পথও বেছে নিচ্ছেন কেউ কেউ।প্রকৃতিগতভাবেই তারা এমন। তাদের মতো আরও অনেকে আছেন বাংলাদেশসহ বিশ্বজুড়ে। খোদ নিজ পরিবার

কেমন আছে বাংলাদেশের সমকামীরা?

২০১৬ সালে ঢাকার কলাবাগানে দুর্বৃত্তরা কুপিয়ে হত্যা করে সমকামী অধিকারকর্মী জুলহাজ মান্নান ও তাঁর বন্ধু মাহবুব তনয়কে৷ এরপর থেকে বাংলাদেশে সমকামী আর তাঁদের নিয়ে কাজ করা মানবাধিকার কর্মীরা নিরাপত্তাহীনতায় ভুগছেন৷ বাংলাদেশে সমকামীদের অধিকার নিয়ে সোচ্চার ছিলেন জুলহাজ মান্নান৷ ২০১৪ সাল থেকে তাঁর সম্পাদনায় বের হতে শুরু করে এলজিবিটিদের নিয়ে প্রথম পত্রিকা ‘রূপবান'৷ ২০১৬ সালের ২৫ এপ্রিল কলাবাগানের লেক সার্কাস রোডের এক বাসায় ঢুকে এই ইউএসএইড কর্মকর্তা ও তাঁর বন্ধু নাট্যকর্মী মাহবুব তনয়কে হত্যা করা হয়৷ তিন বছর পর এসে সম্প্রতি অভিযোগপত্র চূড়ান্ত করেছে