19 organizations write to PM for lawsuit withdrawal against journo Adhora

At least 19 domestic and international organizations working on press freedom and human rights have sent a joint letter to the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina seeking urgent intervention to stop the harassment of journalist Yeasmein Akter (Adhora), who has been sued under the dissolved Digital Security Act, 2018.

In the letter, the organizations demanded that those who have been prosecuted under this law for exercising freedom of expression including RTV staff reporter Yeasmein should also be withdrawn.  

The letter was published on the website of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Wednesday (August 30).

A case filed under the Digital Security Act against Yeasmein for publishing news against the misdeed of ‍‍`Pir‍‍` Syndicate in the capital‍‍`s Rajarbagh, which is under investigation. 

The letter said, “We are receiving alarming information that members of the Rajarbagh Darbar Sharif have been conducting illegal surveillance on Yeasmein since mid-July. She and her family members are being threatened. The authorities should investigate the threat and bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure Yasmin‍‍`s physical and mental safety.”

Organizations that signed the joint statement include Amnesty International, Article 19 South Asia, Asian Human Rights Commission, Bangladeshi Journalists in International Media (BJIM), Capital Punishment Justice Project, Civicus: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Coalition for Women in Journalism (CFWIJ), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Forum for Freedom of Expression Bangladesh, Free Press Unlimited, IFEX, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), PEN America, PEN Bangladesh, PEN International, Reporters Without Borders and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights.

The letter was sent to the email address of PM’s office and ministers among home, law, foreign, religious affairs along with Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh were CCed. 

Yeasmein Akter alias Adhora Yeasmean worked as a staff reporter for TheReport.live once.

RTV reporter Yeasmein Akter reported against Rajarbagh Darbar Shareef pir Dillur Rahman and his syndicate on various allegations including extortion, harassing numerous people across the country, land grabbing, and various other crimes.