Journalist goes missing in Bangladesh amidst controversial accusations

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published 5 years ago

Shafiqul Islam Kajol, a photographer and editor of Pakkhakal Shafiqul is reported missing after being accused by the ruling Awami League of publishing false information.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is urging the Bangladesh government to expedite the investigations to locate Kajol and ensure his safety.

 Julia Ferdousy Noyon, Kajol’s wife, filed a complaint at Chawbazar Police Station, Chittagong, on March 11 after his disappearance.  Monorom Palak, Kajol’s son, said his father left their house at Bakshibazar, Dhaka, around 3:00 pm on March 10. Police are investigating the complaint and have denied arresting Kajol.

A day before Kajol’s disappearance, Kajol was accused of publishing false information under Bangladesh’s controversial Digital Security Act, along with 31 others including Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, the editor-in-chief of the Bangla daily Manabzamin.

The case filed by Awami League lawmaker Saifuzzaman Shikho alleged an article published in Manabzamin on March 2 had a number of inaccuracies. The story reported that members of parliament, bureaucrats, and businessmen had ties to a suspended leader of the Juba Mahila League political group. The former leader, Shamima Nur Papia, was arrested on February 22 for various crimes including selling illegal weapons, drugs, extortion, and people smuggling.

 The court has ordered police to submit a full report in the case against Chowdhury, Kajol, and others by March 20. The Digital Security Act, passed by Bangladesh’s parliament in 2018, includes provisions for up to 14 years imprisonment for expressing a view online that authorities deem defamatory or subversive.

 According to Dhaka-based human rights organization, Odhikar, 505 enforced disappearances were documented between 2009-2018.

The IFJ said: “The authorities handling of Kajol’s case is unacceptable and the IFJ remains gravely concerned for his well-being. The Digital Security Act has brought in a new age of despots using this law to silence journalists.”—IFJ media release