Ittefaq Report
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged the Bangladesh government to protect bloggers and prosecute those targeting free speech instead of proposing self-censorship.
In a press release on Tuesday, it said that the killing of secular blogger Niladri Chakrabarti is a harrowing reminder of the need for the Bangladesh government to take immediate steps to protect the security of all and end attempts at muzzling independent voices.
Instead of addressing police failure to respond to threats against Chakrabarti or to arrest those responsible for the earlier murders, Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque warned “that hurting religious sentiments is a crime according to our law,” said the press release.
While assuring a speedy investigation, Hoque recommended “Those who are free thinkers and writers, I will request them, please make sure that we don’t cross the line. Anything that may hurt anyone’s religious sentiments or beliefs should not be written.”
“It’s shocking that Bangladesh authorities not only failed to protect the bloggers despite complaints to the police about threats against them, but instead are proposing self-censorship,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
“The government should recall that its duty is to uphold the Constitution and protect people’s lives, as well as their religious freedom.”
The statement also criticized the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina;s government saying her government has targeted free speech, threatening or prosecuting contempt of court cases against civil society activists and journalists, shuttering media houses critical of the government, and arresting human rights defenders who criticize violations by security forces.
The Human Rights Watch called upon the Bangladesh government to immediately investigate these premeditated killings, and identify and prosecute those that conspired or ordered these murders.
Source: Ittefaq
