A Paris-based international human rights organisation has strongly condemned the arrest and imprisonment of Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, chairman of DBC News and a former information advisor to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, calling the move an act of political persecution and a deliberate abuse of the criminal justice system. The condemnation comes after a Bangladeshi court remanded Sobhan Chowdhury to jail in connection with a murder case linked to the July 2024 protests in Dhaka.

The Court Order

The remand order was passed by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana Haque on Thursday, following a petition filed by the investigating officer, according to Public Prosecutor Muhammad Shamsuddoha Chowdhury, as reported by Bangladeshi media. No date for the next hearing has been publicly disclosed.

What the Rights Body Alleged

Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) alleged that Sobhan Chowdhury had been implicated in the murder case solely on account of his perceived support for the Awami League and his association with the ideals of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. The organisation noted that the published court account cited no specific evidence establishing his direct involvement in, or responsibility for, the killing — nor any indication that he had instructed it.

The rights body further argued that political affiliation or professional association with a former government cannot legally substitute for evidence of individual criminal responsibility. It described the use of a murder charge in this manner as the weaponisation of criminal law to silence a journalist.

JMBF Founder's Statement

JMBF Founder President Shahanur Islam said in a statement: “We unequivocally condemn the politically motivated arrest and imprisonment of veteran journalist Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury. This disturbing pattern of persecution began under the previous interim government led by Muhammad Yunus and continues to threaten fundamental freedoms in Bangladesh. JMBF firmly believes that he has been targeted solely for his perceived association with the Bangladesh Awami League and his support for the ideals of our Liberation War.”

Islam added: “Weaponising criminal law to punish political beliefs and silence journalists is an outrageous abuse of state power. We demand his immediate release and an end to this political persecution.”

Demands and International Appeals

JMBF called on the government of Bangladesh to immediately release Sobhan Chowdhury, end what it described as his politically motivated detention and prosecution, and withdraw all charges brought against him on the basis of his perceived political affiliation, professional position, or support for the ideals of the 1971 Liberation War.

The organisation also appealed to the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, and global press freedom bodies to raise the case with Bangladeshi authorities, demand disclosure of the evidence supporting the prosecution, and closely monitor the proceedings.

Broader Context

This case comes amid a broader crackdown on journalists and political figures perceived to be aligned with the Awami League following the political upheaval of July 2024. Critics argue that the interim administration has used the criminal justice system to pursue political opponents, a charge the government has not publicly addressed in relation to this specific case. Press freedom advocates have flagged Bangladesh as a country of concern, and international scrutiny is now intensifying around how the transitional authorities handle cases involving media professionals.