International human rights group Front Line Defenders (FLD), based in Dublin, Ireland, has raised serious alarm over a coordinated campaign of harassment targeting Shampa Goswami, a Bangladeshi Hindu woman human rights defender, warning that the attacks are rooted in her gender and minority identity. The case has drawn global attention amid a wider pattern of violence and discrimination against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.

Travel Ban and Police Investigation

According to FLD, Bangladeshi authorities imposed a travel ban on Goswami, leading to her being stopped at the airport on 21 August 2026 and prevented from travelling to Bali, Indonesia, where she had been scheduled to attend an international conference. On 20 September, Goswami filed a writ petition before Bangladesh's High Court challenging the travel ban and is reportedly awaiting a hearing date.

The situation escalated further when Goswami received a letter on 28 September informing her that Bangladesh's Ministry of Home Affairs had directed the Inspector General of Police to investigate allegations of corruption and misuse of funds against her — accusations her supporters say are politically motivated.

A 'Sustained Campaign' Against Goswami and PRERONA

FLD characterised these measures as part of a 'sustained campaign of stigmatisation, harassment and administrative obstruction' against Goswami, her family, and PRERONA, the women-led organisation she heads in Satkhira district of Bangladesh. The rights group also noted that Goswami and her daughters have faced threats, extortion attempts, and online harassment targeting them personally and PRERONA staff.

Notably, FLD condemned what it called the 'gendered nature' of the attacks, which it said drew explicitly on Goswami's identity as a woman and as a member of a minority community. The group contextualised the harassment within a broader climate in Bangladesh where members of the Hindu community, Ahmadiyya Muslims, and indigenous groups continue to face discriminatory practices.

FLD's Demands to Dhaka

The rights organisation has issued a clear set of demands to the Bangladeshi government. It called for the immediate lifting of the travel ban on Goswami and the cessation of all forms of harassment and intimidation directed at her, her family, and PRERONA. FLD further urged authorities to conduct a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation into the threats and extortion attempts targeting Goswami and her associates, and to bring those responsible to justice in line with international standards.

The group also appealed to Dhaka to guarantee that all human rights defenders in Bangladesh — particularly women defenders and those from minority communities — can carry out their peaceful and legitimate activities without fear of reprisals or arbitrary restrictions, including judicial and administrative harassment.

Broader Context: Minorities Under Pressure in Bangladesh

This case arrives against a backdrop of sustained concern from international bodies and diaspora groups over the treatment of religious minorities in Bangladesh. Reports of violence, property seizures, and social intimidation targeting Hindu communities have drawn repeated condemnations from rights organisations. For defenders like Goswami, who operate at the intersection of gender and minority rights, the risks are compounded — a reality that FLD says authorities must urgently address.

With Goswami's High Court petition still awaiting a hearing date, the spotlight on Dhaka's response to this case is only set to grow.