Amnesty International has called on Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, to create space for freedom of expression and immediately release journalist Anis Alamgir, who was arrested under the Anti-Terrorism Act earlier this month.
In a report published yesterday, Amnesty’s regional researcher Rihab Mahmour said Anis Alamgir was arrested on 15 December following allegations that he and others used social and mainstream media platforms to support the Awami League. Amnesty said the interim government must uphold its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and ensure the journalist’s immediate release.
According to media reports, Anis Alamgir told the court that questioning those in power was his professional duty, adding that he has done so for more than two decades. Local rights group Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) also strongly condemned the arrest, describing it as a misuse of the Anti-Terrorism Act and an attack on freedom of expression. ASK said the law was being applied outside its intended scope and warned that such actions could create fear among journalists and set a dangerous precedent for suppressing dissent.
On the other hand, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged urgent action to secure the release of four other journalists – Farzana Rupa, Shakil Ahmed, Mozammel Babu and Shyamal Dutta – jailed on what it described as politically motivated murder charges. In a letter sent ahead of International Human Rights Day, CPJ said the allegations lacked credible evidence and appeared to be reprisals for their reporting.
The appeals come amid growing concern over shrinking press freedom in Bangladesh. Rights groups and media professionals say arrests, legal harassment and pressure under laws such as the Cyber Security Act have intensified, leading to widespread self-censorship and constraints on independent journalism.
