Four journalists have been imprisoned for more than fifteen months. They are accused of murder, yet the investigation has not been completed. They are repeatedly denied bail despite multiple petitions. When the international journalist organization CPJ called for their release, Yunus’s press secretary said, “There is no scope for the Chief Adviser to intervene in this matter.” It is easy to evade responsibility by invoking the rule of law.
But did this same person think about the rule of law in July 2024? When a democratically elected government was overthrown through chaos on the streets, under which law did he come to power? Does the constitution permit seizing power in this manner? The man who is running the country without the people’s vote is now invoking legal principles.
Shakil Ahmed, Farzana Rupa, Mozammel Babu, and Shyamal Dutta—these four journalists. What is their crime? They wrote in favor of the government, they did not question those in power. Is that a crime? If it is, then let there be a new law and let them be tried accordingly. But a murder case? A murder with which they have absolutely no connection, yet they have been in prison for months.
Lawyers say that the investigation in none of the cases has been completed. Even so, bail is not being granted. Once, when the High Court gave them bail, the Appellate Division suspended it within two days. Is this justice, or vengeance? Their condition in prison is miserable. A 36-square-foot cell enclosed with iron bars. Sleeping on a concrete floor without a mattress. Mozammel Babu has cancer; Shyamal Dutta suffers from high blood pressure and diabetes. There is no proper medical care, no adequate food.
Yunus himself told The Daily Star last November that murder cases were being filed hastily against journalists and that the government would stop it. But even after he took power, a new murder case was filed against these four journalists. What happened to that promise? Or was it merely a tactic to please foreign donors and international organizations?
A man who came to power with foreign money and support—is he truly working for the interests of the country’s people? Those who came to power through the chaos of July, through the deaths of countless people, the destruction of property, and the destabilization of the nation—hearing them speak of the rule of law is laughable. A government formed with the direct support of the military and Islamist militant groups is now speaking of democracy and law.
The families of the four journalists have been shattered. Their children are waiting for their parents. But the very government that came to power through an unconstitutional path now does not want to hear about Article 33 of the constitution or international conventions.
CPJ says more than fifteen hundred journalists worldwide have expressed solidarity with this call. But Yunus and his team evade responsibility by invoking the law. Yet they themselves came to power by bypassing the law. How long will this double standard continue?
If innocent imprisoned people are not freed on Human Rights Day, then what is the meaning of observing such a day? A question to Yunus: are you truly working for the country, or are you protecting the interests of those who put you in power?
