Statement: JMBF Once Again Calls for Removal of Death Penalty Provision in Ansar Battalion Act, 2023

Paris, France; October 25, 2023: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), an independent, non-partisan, non-profit human rights organization based in France, expresses deep concern regarding the placement of the Ansar Battalion Act, 2023, with the inclusion of the death penalty provision in the National Parliament of Bangladesh on October 23, 2023. This proposed law imposes the death penalty as the maximum punishment for various offenses, including mutiny and provocation for rebellion.

JMBF is strongly aggrieved by the placement of the bill for the Ansar Battalion Act, 2023, retaining the death penalty as a maximum punishment, despite calls made by various human rights organizations, including JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), to replace the death penalty with a sentence of life imprisonment until the end of natural life.

Statement: JMBF Demands Prompt Justice for Murder of Self-Identified Transgender Drummer in Bangladesh

Paris, France; October 22, 2023: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a France-based human rights organization, is deeply concerned about the brutal murder of Babul Mridha (60), a drummer in a transgender Hijra group, in Naria upazila under the Shariyatpur district in Bangladesh.

JMBF demands that the perpetrators be brought to justice under the law by identifying and apprehending those responsible for this heinous act through a prompt, impartial, and transparent investigation and trial.

According to reports published in various newspapers in Bangladesh, Babul Mridha, a self-identified member of a transgender Hijra group, was brutally murdered on the night of September 4th due to her association with the transgender Hijra community.

Statement:JMBF Expresses Deep Concern over BSF's Fatal Shooting of Bangladeshi Citizen at Tetulia Border, Panchagarh

aris, France; October 20, 2023: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a human rights organization based in France, expresses profound concern regarding the tragic incident of killing a Bangladeshi citizen, Mr. Akkas Ali (35), due to gunfire by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) at the Tetulia border in the Panchagarh district.

JMBF vehemently condemns the killing of Bangladeshi citizen Akkas Ali and urgently calls upon the BSF to cease all instances of border shootings during their duty, aligning with international laws and principles.

Multiple reports from Bangladeshi newspapers indicate that Akkas Ali, the son of Abdus Samad from the Dhamnagar area of Tiranighat Union in Tetulia Upazila, Panchagarh, lost his life due to gunfire from the Indian Border Security Force. On the night of October 17, while attempting to cut the border fence to cross into India, BSF members at the Fari Gang Camp in the Thalrath area targeted them and opened fire, resulting in the tragic death of Akkas Ali. Subsequently, the BSF recovered his body and handed it over to Bangladeshi authorities on October 18, 2023.

Statement: JMBF Gravely Concerns over BSF’s Killing of Bangladeshi Child at Moulovibazar Border

Paris, France; October 16, 2023: France-based human rights organization, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), is deeply concerned about the killing of a Bangladeshi child, Ferdaus Ahmed (14), by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) at the Lalarchak border in Kulaura Upazila of Moulovibazar district.

JMBF strongly condemns the incident of killing a child and calls for the BSF to stop all kinds of border killings while carrying out their duties in accordance with international law and principles immediately.

Statement: JMBF Expresses Deep Concern and Protests against the Arrest of a Hindu Woman in Bagerhat on Allegations of Insulting the Islamic religion

Paris, France; October 7, 2023: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses profound concern and strong protest regarding the arrest of a Hindu minority woman on allegations of insulting the Islamic religion in Bagerhat, Bangladesh, on September 26, 2023. The human rights organization, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), also calls for the immediate release of the arrested woman and the withdrawal of the false charges filed against her.

According to reliable sources, on September 24, 2023, in the Ramphal Union of Bagerhat district, a 45-year-old Hindu minority woman named Rupali Das was involved in a verbal altercation with an Islamic woman named Momena Begum when she went to fetch water at a tube well. Momena Begum, with malicious intent, accused Rupali Das of insulting Islam by using offensive language.

Statement : JMBF Calls for Justice and Accountability for the Death of Habibur Rahman due to torture in Police Custody in Bogura

Paris, France; October 06, 2023: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses its deepest concern and outrage over the tragic death of Habibur Rahman Habib due to torture in police custody in Bogura, Bangladesh, on October 3, 2023.

JMBF states that Habib's death in police custody has cast a dark shadow on the state of human rights and the rule of law in the country. It calls for the formation of an inquiry committee to investigate this incident, led by a judicial magistrate, to ensure the highest levels of integrity and transparency in the proceedings.

Multiple news sources reported that Habibur Rahman Habib, a lawyer’s assistant to the Bogura Judge Court, suffered torture during his time in police custody and was taken to the hospital only after he had passed away. He was taken from the court premises in the afternoon of October 3, around 5:45 pm, without a warrant or any FIR, and subjected to alleged torture at the DB police office, ultimately leading to his untimely demise.

Joint Statement: Call for the release of two human rights defenders unjustly detained in Bangladesh

JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) along with 72 human rights organisations stand in solidarity with Adilur Rahman Khan and ASM Nasiruddin Elan, two prominent Bangladeshi human rights activists from the Odhikar group, after they were sentenced to two years’ imprisonment as retaliation for their human rights work.

On 14 September 2023, Adilur Rahman Khan, Secretary of Odhikar, as well as a member of the OMCT General Assembly and FIDH Secretary General, and ASM Nasiruddin Elan, Director of Odhikar, were sentenced to two years in prison and a fine, following ten years of relentless judicial harassment. The two men were remanded at Dhaka Central Jail. Khan and Elan’s lawyers plan to appeal the decision once the court has issued its written judgment, which could take months.

Statement: JMBF Strongly Condemns and Protests the Brutal Attack on Poet Radhapad Ray in Kurigram, Bangladesh

Paris, France: October 03, 2023: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) strongly condemns and protests the barbaric attack on renowned poet Radhapad Ray in Nagishwari Upazila of Kurigram on September 30, 2023.

JMBF has also called for the immediate arrest of the accused in the said attack and ensuring the provision of exemplary punishment to the culprits after a fair and impartial investigation, in line with human rights principles

According to a report published in the online edition of the Daily Kalbela on October 2, the attack took place on the poet in his village in the Betharband Union of Nageshwari Upazila in Kurigram district on Saturday, September 30. A young man named Rafiqul Islam (38), a neighbor, suddenly attacked him. As a result of the attack, poet Radhapad Roy was seriously injured and is currently undergoing treatment at Nageshwari Health Complex.