Bangladesh tribunal keeps three journalists jailed awaiting trial

Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has ordered three senior journalists to be kept in custody pending trial in a crimes against humanity case tied to the 2024 mass uprising that led to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s ouster. The journalists—Shyamal Dutta, Mozammel Babu, and Farzana Rupa—are accused of inciting suppression of demonstrators after a July 14, 2024 press conference, a charge critics say weaponizes anti-press sentiment and threatens press freedom. The Commonwealth Journalists Association and global rights groups have condemned the detention as an overreach that could criminalize routine journalism, calling for accountability to be based on credible evidence rather than media reporting. Prosecution officials have requested more time to submit investigation findings, with court dates set for October 25 in some reports, while authorities have reiterated the need to proceed with the case against the journalists. International coverage notes that Hasina’s government, including her absence in India and trial in absentia, remains central to the surrounding political and legal controversy, drawing widespread scrutiny of the crackdown on media during and after the uprising.