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ARTICLE 19 demands immediate release of journo Kajol


Published : 05 May 2020 09:30 PM | Updated : 05 Sep 2020 12:32 PM

ARTICLE 19 called for immediate and unconditional release of journalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol from custody, who was arrested under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in Jashore on Sunday.

The UK-based rights body expressed high concern over the abuse of legal proceedings against Kajol, who has been missing for more than two months, said a statement on Tuesday.

The international human rights organization observed: the handcuffing of a kidnapped citizen on the back; the re-arrest of him, after being granted bail in a case by the court; abusing another law only to prevent his release, and blocking the family from visiting him in prison - all these happened on the same day in Kajol's case, as a clear violation of fundamental rights and the law. ARTICLE 19 s strongly condemns such proceedings, read the statement.

Faruq Faisel, Regional Director for ARTICLE 19, Bangladesh and South Asia, said: ‘’While the government is releasing prisoners to prevent the spread of coronavirus in prisons, there is no rationale in sending Kajal to jail now. As Kajal is not accused in any heinous case like murder, rape, terrorism, militancy, or treason.

‘’There have been three lawsuits against him that are identical under the controversial Digital Security Act (DSA) 2018, only for expressing his views on Facebook. In at least one of the cases, the other accused have been released on bail. So logically question arises in people’s mind on why the authorities are so enthusiastic to put Kajol behind the bars’’, he added.

According to media reports, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) handed over Kajol, the editor of 'Pakkhakal' magazine, to Benapole Port Police Station after he was rescued at the border adjacent to Benapole Land Port at midnight on May 3, 2020.
A case was also filed against him there on charges of trespassing. Kajol was brought to Jashore from Benapole Port Police Station around noon on the day. After questioning at the Detective Branch office of police, he was handcuffed on his back and taken to the court in the afternoon. The judge granted bail to Kajal.

Soon after that, the police took Kajol into custody at Kotwali police station and sent him to jail in the evening under section 54. Kajol’s lawyers and family allege that they did not get a chance to appeal for bail against that arrest and were not allowed to meet Kajol in jail on the pretext of corona infection.

Faruq Faisel said, "After Kajol went missing, his family filed a case of kidnapping. Therefore, where Kajol has been for more than two months, where he was taken, by whom and why, how he came to the Benapole border - these questions must be clearly answered immediately.

“There should be a proper investigation into Kajol's disappearance at this time and if anyone found involved, immediate action must be taken against them,” he added.

ARTICLE 19 also observed with concern that over the past few years, freedom of expression in Bangladesh has been steadily shrinking, and journalists and the media have been cornered by a series of lawsuits under the draconian DSA. This trend is fostering a culture of fear, which is quite alarming for a free and independent media and democracy. ARTICLE 19 demands the repeal of this draconian law.

In 2018, ARTICLE 19 recorded a total of 71 cases filed against practitioners of freedom of expression including journalists under the then section 57 of the ICT act and then newly enacted Digital Security Act which came into effect in October of the year. In 2019, the number of recorded cases initiated under the DSA was 63.

From January to April this year, 45 cases have been recorded of this kind, most of which have been filed against journalists and media editors. Most recently, on May 1, 2020, three journalists were arrested and sent to jail in a case filed by the police in Narsingdi under the Act.

“Democracy in Bangladesh will be in dangour If the government continues to patronize the impunity of crimes against journalists,“ Faruq Faisel said.