Amnesty urges Bangladesh to drop sedition charges against Hindu activist Shampa Goswami
Synopsis
Amnesty International has demanded Bangladesh immediately drop a life-sentence-carrying sedition charge against Hindu woman activist Shampa Goswami, who also faces a travel ban and family harassment. With 20 Bangladeshi human rights groups joining the alarm, the case has become a flashpoint over how Dhaka treats minority civil society voices.
Key Takeaways
Amnesty International on 11 November 2026 called on Bangladesh to immediately drop sedition charges against Shampa Goswami , Hindu activist and Executive Director of Prerona .
The sedition case was filed in September ; charges carry a possible life sentence .
Goswami was granted anticipatory bail for eight weeks but remains subject to a travel ban in place since 21 August .
Authorities stopped her at the airport when she tried to travel to Indonesia for an international conference.
Prerona , which Goswami has led since 2006 , faces administrative delays obstructing its women's rights projects.
The Human Rights Forum Bangladesh (HRFB) , a coalition of 20 organisations, has separately raised concerns over her safety.
Amnesty International on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, called on Bangladeshi authorities to immediately drop sedition charges against Shampa Goswami, a Hindu woman rights activist and Executive Director of Prerona, a women's organisation based in Satkhira district, Bangladesh. The international human rights body warned of a wider campaign of intimidation against Goswami and those associated with her work.
The Sedition Case Against Goswami
A sedition case was filed against Goswami in September over allegations of involvement in anti-government activities and conspiring to overthrow the government. The charges carry a possible life sentence. While she was recently granted anticipatory bail for eight weeks, Amnesty International noted the relief offers only temporary protection from arrest and does not address the underlying charges or the broader intimidation she faces.
Goswami has led Prerona since its establishment in 2006. The organisation works to advance women's rights, education, health, and economic empowerment, particularly among marginalised communities in Bangladesh.
Surveillance, Travel Ban and Family Harassment
'The reprisal against Goswami extends beyond the criminal case. She has faced surveillance, intimidation and harassment of her family,' Amnesty International stated. On 21 August, authorities stopped her at the airport as she attempted to travel to Indonesia to attend an international conference. A travel restriction continues to prevent her from leaving Bangladesh.
The pressure has also extended to her organisation. Despite submitting required documentation, Prerona continues to face delays in obtaining administrative approvals for its projects, effectively obstructing its legitimate work, Amnesty said.
Amnesty International's Demands
Amnesty International urged Bangladeshi authorities to end all harassment and intimidation against Goswami and her family, lift the travel ban, and ensure Prerona can continue its work without obstruction or reprisals. 'Defending human rights is not a crime,' the rights body stated.
Broader Human Rights Concern in Bangladesh
The case has drawn concern from multiple quarters within Bangladesh. Last week, the Human Rights Forum Bangladesh (HRFB) — a coalition of 20 human rights and development organisations including Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF), Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP), and Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) — raised concerns over Goswami's safety. The forum urged authorities to protect her right to pursue legitimate human rights work without fear and to ensure that her family and associates are not subjected to intimidation, according to The Daily Star, Bangladesh's leading newspaper.
This comes amid a broader climate of concern over the treatment of minority communities and civil society actors in Bangladesh. The charges against Goswami — a Hindu woman leading a grassroots women's rights organisation — have amplified fears that sedition laws are being used to silence legitimate dissent and human rights advocacy. The international spotlight now on Dhaka is likely to intensify scrutiny of how Bangladesh handles similar cases going forward.
Point of View
Family intimidation, and administrative throttling of her NGO — fit a pattern of using legal mechanisms to neutralise civil society rather than confront it openly. The fact that both Amnesty International and a 20-member domestic human rights coalition have had to intervene suggests institutional checks within Bangladesh are failing to protect legitimate advocacy. For a government seeking international legitimacy, allowing these charges to stand against a minority Hindu woman activist sends a damaging signal that dissent and human rights work remain criminalised in practice, regardless of formal democratic frameworks.
NationPress
11 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Shampa Goswami and why is she facing sedition charges in Bangladesh?
Shampa Goswami is a Hindu woman rights activist and Executive Director of Prerona, a women's organisation in Bangladesh's Satkhira district. A sedition case was filed against her in September over allegations of involvement in anti-government activities and conspiring to overthrow the government — charges she and human rights groups reject as a form of persecution.
What has Amnesty International demanded from Bangladesh?
Amnesty International has called on Bangladeshi authorities to immediately drop the sedition charges against Goswami, end all harassment and intimidation of her and her family, lift the travel ban preventing her from going abroad, and ensure Prerona can continue its work without obstruction.
What is the travel ban imposed on Shampa Goswami?
Since 21 August, Goswami has been barred from travelling abroad. Authorities stopped her at the airport when she attempted to travel to Indonesia to attend an international conference. The travel restriction remains in place.
What is Prerona and how has it been affected?
Prerona is a women's rights organisation founded by Goswami in 2006, working on education, health, and economic empowerment for marginalised communities in Bangladesh. Despite submitting required documents, the organisation faces delays in obtaining administrative approvals for its projects, which Amnesty International says is obstructing its legitimate work.
Which other organisations have raised concern over Goswami's case?
The Human Rights Forum Bangladesh (HRFB), a coalition of 20 organisations including Ain o Salish Kendra, Manusher Jonno Foundation, BLAST, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, and Transparency International Bangladesh, raised concerns over her safety last week. It urged authorities to protect her right to pursue human rights work without fear of reprisal.
