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Bangladesh: Violations against journalists and onlineactivistsin2016

ARTICLE19–FreeWordCentre,60FarringdonRd,LondonEC1R3GA–www.article19.org–+442073242500Pageof35 2

May2Contents

ExecutiveSummary 3

1.Context 7

2.Safetyofjournalistsandonlineactivistsin2016 9

3.Mappingofviolationsagainstjournalistsandonlineactivistsin2016 13

4.Protectionofjournalistsandonlineactivistsin2016 25

5.Policyinterventions 28

6.Keyfindingsandrecommendations 30

Notes 34


ExecutiveSummary

In 2016, Bangladesh faced a series of violent attacks against journalists, secularbloggers,academics,gayrightsactivists, foreigners,women,andmembersof religiousminorities. On 1 July, armed youth extremists attacked the Holy Artisan Bakery inDhaka,heldstaffandcustomershostageandkilled22people, including17 foreigners.On7July,anattemptedbombattackonagatheringofthousandsofMuslimsforEid-ul-FitrPrayersfailedbutclaimedthelivesofthreepeople.

Three killings continued to create an atmosphere of self-censorship. A Lesbian, Gay,Bisexual,TransgenderandIntersex(LGBTI)magazineeditorandactivistalongwithhisfriendwerebrutally killedwithmacheteswhile a secularonline activistwas attackedwithmachetesandshottodeath.Thesekillings,alongwiththearrestsofthreeofficialsof a publishing house for allegedly hurting religious sentiments of Muslims bypublishing a book titled Islam Bitorko (“Debate on Islam”), were an example thatprogressiveviewscontinuedtobesilenced.Notably,wehaveseenattemptedkillingasanew formof violation emerge,whichwasused to silence a national-level and a local-leveljournalist.

Overall,2016sawanotableincreaseinthenumberofviolationsagainstjournalistsandonline activists compared to previous years. This year 141 journalists, three onlineactivistsandthreeofficialsofapublishinghouse,includingtheowner,weresubjectedtoatotalof320violationsin147differentincidents.Harassmentthroughtheunwarrantedapplicationoflaws,includingcriminaldefamationcases,vexatiouscasesunderdifferentlaws,andtheuseofSection57oftheInformationCommunicationTechnology(ICT)Act,constituted 39%, attacks against physical integrity 19.4%, destruction of equipmentand/or property 18.4%, threats and intimidation 15%, arrests and/or police remand7.2% of the total violations used to silence journalists and online activists. Only fourgender-basedviolationswerenoted,1.3%ofthetotalviolations;however,thesefiguresdonotreflecttheactualnumberofoccurrencesofthistypeofviolation,asmostcasesarenotreportedforfearofrepercussions.

In 2016, harassment through the unwarranted application of laws posed the mostsignificant threat to freedom of expression. Various laws have been used to silencejournalists and online activists, including the Penal Code 1860, the Information andCommunication TechnologyAct 2006 (amended in 2013) and the Special Powers Act1974. The use of criminal defamation has increased seven-fold and amounted to 78cases, compared to only 10 in 2014. The use of Section 57 of the ICT Act forcriminalisationofonlineexpressionremainedsignificant.Thisyeardifferentlawshavebeenused in conjunction toharass targeted individuals, such asTheDaily Star editorMahfuz Anam, who faced 66 criminal defamation cases, and 17 cases filed withvexatiousintentforallegedseditionbyleadersandactivistsoftherulingAwamiLeagueand its affiliated bodies across the country, after his admission regarding a lapse ineditorialjudgementwhilepublishingareportcontainingunverifiedinformation.


The destruction of equipment and/or property of targeted journalists and onlineactivistsreachedunprecedentedlevelscomparedtopreviousyearsandwasparticularlyused to silence local-level camera operators and photojournalists when reporting onlocal-level crimes, corruption, local-level political party activists, high-levelpoliticians,publicofficials,andsensitiveissuessuchaschildmarriage.

In 2016, we have seen threats and intimidation being used on a large scale as 36journalistswere threatenedasagroupwhenorganisingaprotestagainst thephysicalattackagainst,andabductionof,afellowjournalistbyfollowersofamunicipalmayor.

InDecember,alowercourtdeliveredaverdictinthecaseofjournalistManikSaha,whowasmurderedinabombattack12yearsago,sentencingnineoftheelevenaccusedtolifeimprisonmentandacquittingtheothertwo.However,overallonlytwooutofthe51caseswherejournalistshavebeenkilledsince1995haveledtoconvictions,whilemostcasesdidnotpassbeyondtheinvestigationstage.Thiswasalsoillustratedin2016,asthemajorityoffiledpolicereportsandcasesremainedunderinvestigation.

ARTICLE 19’s records clearly showed a continuation of the trend of increasedvulnerabilitytoviolationsforlocal-level journalistscomparedtoDhaka-,national-leveljournalists.Journalists,includingespeciallyphotojournalistsandcameraoperators,andonlineactivistswerealsoparticularlyvulnerabletoviolationswhenreportingonhigh-profilepoliticians, local-levelpoliticalpartyactivists,protests, sensitive issues suchaschildmarriage,andexposingcorruptionandillegalbusinesses.

Further,ARTICLE19’srecordsindicatethat86.9%oftheviolationswerecommittedbynon-stateactors,ofwhomanalarming11.03%wereactorssuchaslawyers,journalists,businesspeople,diagnosticcentrestaff,andteachers.Outofallviolations,only10.34%were committed by state-actors, of whom an alarming 2.76% were elected publicofficials,includingMPsandmayors.

Gender-based violations againstwomen journalists continued in 2016; howevermostviolations continued to be unreported for fear of repercussions. In those that do getreportedpromptinvestigationandprosecutioncontinuestoberare.

ARTICLE19makesthefollowingrecommendationsforprotectingthesafetyofjournalistsandfreedomofexpressionofallcitizenstothefollowingactors:

TheGovernmentofBangladesh• Vigorously condemn violations when they do occur, investigate them promptly and

effectively in order to duly sanction those responsible, provide compensation to thevictimswhereappropriate,andregularlyupdatethepublicontheproceedings;

• Takeeffectivemeasurestoaddresscaseswherestateactorsareinvolvedinattacks,sendstrongsignalsthatitisnotappropriateandwillnotbetolerated;

• Ensurethat lawenforcementagencies, includingpolice,upholdtherightof journalists’andcitizens’freedomofexpression;


• Adopt a “holistic” protection approach for addressing issues of protection, safety,security, and impunity, including by establishing a specialised mechanism to provideprotection and to investigate attacks on freedom of expression overseen by anindependentbody;

• Repeal section 57 of the ICT Act 2006 and drop pending cases against individuals forexercising their right to freedom of expression under the ICT Act;Repeal criminaldefamationandreplaceitwithanappropriatecivildefamationlaw;

• EnsurethattheForeignDonations(VoluntaryActivities)Actdoesnotcurbthelegitimateactivitiesandexpressionsofcivilsocietyorganisationsandhumanrightsdefenders;

• Substantially revise any similar bill proposed in the future to bring it into accordancewith international lawand standardson the rights to freedomof expression, peacefulassemblyandassociation;

• Ensure a safe and enabling environment in which human rights defenders and civilsocietyorganisationsareabletocarryouttheirlegitimateworkwithoutunnecessaryordisproportionaterestrictions;

• Put in place anti-SLAPP (strategic litigation against public policy) legislation to preventcasesbeingbroughtsimplytoharassthosewhohaveexercisedtheirrighttofreedomofexpression;

• Provideappropriatetrainingoncrimesagainstfreedomofexpression,includinggender-specific crimes, to relevant law enforcement officials including the police andprosecutors;

• Strictly follow the due process of law in cases of closure of newspapers or televisionchannels,oranyothermediaevenifsuchclosureisnecessaryandjustifiedin law;and

• Review other legal restrictions on the content of what may be published orbroadcasttobringtheminlinewithinternational standards.

• ExtendtheremitoftheNHRCtocoverdiscriminationand/oranti-discriminationlawcoveringprivatepartiesandenabletheHumanRightsCommissiontoinvestigateandtakeactionagainstorganisationsandinstitutionsfoundtobediscriminatingagainstwomenjournalists.

MediaHousesandOrganisations• Adoptequalityactionpoliciesandanti-harassmentguidelinestoaddressdiscrimination

andharassmentofwomen,includingintermsofpayandpromotion;• Make a clear commitment to support their staffwhen they are the subject of attacks

and/or legalharassment, includingbysupporting themto take legalactionagainst theperpetrators;

• End the climate of impunity, ensure that criminal cases are filed for each and everyattackonjournalistsaffiliatedwiththem,andmonitortheprogressofinvestigationandtrial;


• Provide adequate safety, risk awareness, and self-protection training and guidance tojournalistsaffiliatedwiththem;

• Provide necessary security equipment to local correspondents, photographers, andreporterscoveringpoliticalagitationsandclashes;

• Ensure the formulation of guidance to address gender discrimination, gender-basedcensorship and sexual harassment as a serious barrier to women's participation andrepresentationinthemediaandtheestablishmentofrobustandeffectivemechanismstoaddresscomplaintsfromwomenjournalists;

• Promote policy measures such as gender policies, internal code of conduct, equalopportunity employment and anti-bullying and anti-harassment policies toward thedevelopmentofgoodpracticestofreethemediafromsuchnegativetrends;and

• Work in partnership with NGOs to raise awareness among journalists on issues ofdiscrimination,censorshipandharassmentonthebasisofgender.

CivilSocietyOrganisations• Monitor the progress of implementation of Bangladesh’s Universal Periodic Review

(UPR) commitments regarding protection of journalists and online activists, and exerteffectivepressureonthegovernmenttoensureduecompliance.


Context

In 2016, Bangladesh faced a series of violent attacks against journalists, secularbloggers,academics,gayrightsactivists, foreigners,women,andmembersof religiousminorities. On 1 July, armed youth extremists attacked the Holey Artisan Bakery inDhaka,heldstaffandcustomershostageandkilled22people, including17 foreigners.On7July,anattemptedbombattackonagatheringofthousandsofMuslimsforEid-ul-Fitr Prayers failed but claimed the lives of three people. These attacks prompted lawenforcement agencies to heighten counter-terrorism activities and on 26 July nineextremists, including a number of those allegedly associated with the Holey Artisanincident, were killed by the government’s counter terrorism unit in their hideout inDhaka’sKalyanpurdistrict.Thegovernmentsubsequentlyimposedarestrictiononlivetelecastofanycounter-terrorismoperationandorganisedadrillforshuttingdowntheInternetandmobilephonenetworksinthecaseofanationalcrisis.

Religiousextremismcontinuedtobeanissuethroughout2016.On2May,thereligiousfundamentalistgroup,IslamicLiberationFront,issuedforthefirsttimeahitlistoftenprominent people, including five journalists, in Rajshahi. The BangladeshTelecommunication Regulation Commission (BTRC) subsequently blocked some 30websitesandFacebookpagesonthegroundsof“controversial”content likelyto incitereligioushatredandextremism.Onthesamegrounds,PeaceTVwastakenoff-airon10July, and on 25 September the secular blogging platform Istishonwas blocked by thegovernment forusers inBangladesh.Thismovehasdrawncriticism fromwritersandactivistsacrossthecountryandthefounderandeditoroftheplatformhascondemnedtherestrictionasacurbonpeople’srighttofreedomofexpressionandinformation.

In2016,threejournalistsweremurderedinBangladesh,bringingthetotalofjournalistmurderssince1995to51.On25April,theeditoroftheLGBTImagazineRoopbanandatheatre activist were hacked to death in Dhaka. On 6 April, secular online activistNazimuddinSamadwashackedandshottodeathonabusyroadinDhakaforcriticisingreligiousfundamentalismonhisFacebookpage.

Notably, inDecember,a lowercourtdeliveredaverdict inthecaseof journalistManikSaha,whowasmurderedinabombattack12yearsago,sentencingnineoftheelevenaccusedtolifeimprisonmentandacquittingtheothertwo.

Violence against religious minority communities continued throughout 2016.1 On 30October,onlinehatecampaignsresultedintargetedattacksagainsttheminorityHinducommunity in Nasirnagar, Brahmanbaria district. Religious groups burned downhundreds of households and 15 places of worship following a Facebook post

1Accordingtoagovernment-sponsoredsurvey,in2016theHindupopulationincreasedfrom9.9%to10.7%whileChristiansandotherreligiousminoritiesconstituted1.1%.


caricaturingtheQaba.InNovember,theSantalcommunityofGaibandhafacedabrutalattackbythepoliceandrulingpartyactivistsastheminoritygroupsoughttoclaimbacktheirlandwhichhadbeenallegedlyexpropriatedbythegovernmentin1955forsugar-canefarming.

On 20 March, the rape and murder of a female college student sparked a storm ofprotest, but no legal developments have yet been reported. This shows that violenceagainstwomen and girls continued to be a great concern,while prompt investigationandprosecutioninsuchcasescontinuedtoberare.In2016,1,050womenwererapedincluding166womengangrapedand44killedafterrape,whileover4,890womenandgirls were subjected to multiple forms of torture, according to women’s rightsorganisationBangladeshMohilaParishad.Aspertheirreport,violenceagainstwomenandgirlsin2016wasworsecomparedtothepreviousthreeyears.2

Legaldevelopmentsaffectingfreedomofexpressionin2016includedthereleaseofthesecondversionoftheDraftBroadcastingAct,2016regulatingtelevisionchannels,radiostations,andonlinemedia,on30November.Provisionsregardingpenaltiesforviolatingthelaw,relatedpolicies,oranyotherdirectivesoftheBroadcastCommissionhavebeenchanged to include up to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of fifty millionBangladeshitaka.Further,on22August,theCabinetapprovedtheDraftDigitalSecurityAct,whichcontainsaprovisiononpunishmentuptolifeimprisonmentandatenmilliontaka fine for spreading “propaganda against theLiberationWar and theFatherof theNationBangabandhuSheikhMujiburRahman”throughdigitaldevices.However,itfailsto provide clear definitions and to stipulate the components of such “propaganda”.Furthermore,on6November, theForeignDonations (VoluntaryActivities)RegulationActcameintoeffect,regulatingtheoperationsofNGOsinBangladesh.ThelawenablestheNGOBureautocanceltheregistrationsofNGOssimplyforexercisingtheirrighttofreedomofexpressionbycriticisinggovernmentbodies.

2http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/crime/2017/01/08/violence-4896-women-girls-2016/


Safetyofjournalistsandonlineactivistsin2016

In2016,ARTICLE19recordedatotalof320attacksagainstjournalistsworkinginprint,electronic, and onlinemedia, and online activists. These attempts to limit freedom ofexpressionandthepressincluded:

a) Attacks against physical integrity, including killing, attempted killing, serious bodilyinjury,minorassault,abductionandattemptedabduction;

b) Intimidationandthreats;c) Harassment through unwarranted application of laws, including criminal defamation

cases,vexatiouscasesunderdifferentlaws,anduseofSection57oftheICTAct;d) Arrestsorpoliceremand;e) Gender-basedviolations;andf) Destructionofequipmentand/orproperty.

With 125 violations, harassment through unwarranted application of laws, includingcriminaldefamationcases,vexatiouscasesunderdifferentlaws,anduseofSection57oftheICTAct,constituted39.1%ofthetotalviolationsandmorethandoubletheattacksagainst physical integrity where 62 violations were noted. With 19.4% of the totalviolations,attacksagainstphysical integrityconstitutedthesecondhighestcategoryofviolations.Thethirdhighestcategoryofviolationsusedtosilencejournalistsandonlineactivistswas the destruction of equipment and/or property and 58 violations of thistype were recorded, equalling 18.1% of the total number of violations. Underintimidation and threats, 48 violationswere noted, constituting 15%of all violations,while 23 arrests and/or police remand constituted 7.2% of all violations. Only fourgender-basedviolationswerenoted,1.3%ofthetotalviolations;however,thesefiguresdonotreflecttheactualnumberofoccurrencesofthistypeofviolation,asmostcasesarenotreportedforfearofrepercussions.


Chart1:Frequencyofdifferenttypesofviolationsagainstjournalistsandonlineactivists

ARTICLE19recordedthat141journalists,threeonlineactivists,andthreeofficialsofapublishinghouse, including theowner, faceda total of320violations in147differentincidents. Of the victims, 94% were journalists, including 62% reporters, 19%editors/sub-editorsand13%photojournalists.

Chart2:Percentageofvictimsbyjobcategory

Themajority of the victims (51%)worked at the local level.However, at thenationallevelan increase inviolationshasbeennotedtoo,comparedtopreviousyears,mostlydue to83violationscommittedagainstTheDailyStar editor,andcriminaldefamationcases such as those brought against the editor, executive editor, and reporter ofJanakantha(formoredetailsseeChapter3).

584

232225

7848

338

1623

Destruc1onofEquipment/PropertyGender-basedViola1onArrest/PoliceRemand

Criminalisa1onofOnlineExpressionVexa1ousCase

CriminalDefama1onIn1mida1on/Threat

Abduc1onMinorAssault

SeriousBodilyInjuryAPemptedKilling

Killing

Editor/Sub-editor19%

Reporter62%

Photojournalist13%

Other5%

OnlineAcdvist1%


Chart3:Percentageofvictimsworkingatnationalandlocallevel

Of thevictims,82.8%worked inprintmedia,7.6% inelectronicmedia,and9.7% inonlinemedia. This shows that journalistsworking in printmediawere targeted evenmore thanthoseworkingonelectronicandonlinemedia,consistentwithourfindingsovertheyears.Notably,22casesofcriminalisationofonlineexpressionwererecordedthisyear,affectingmainlyjournalistsandactivists.Therewerealso58casesofdestructionofequipmentand/orproperty,whichhadastrongimpactonphotojournalists.

Table1:Violationssegregatedbyprint,electronicandonlinemedia

ARTICLE19’srecordsshowthatthehighestnumberofviolationsoccurredinFebruary(32.2%)andDecember(20.9%).Thiswasmostlydueto83casesbeingfiledagainstTheDaily Star editor in February,while inDecember36 journalistswere threatenedwithdeathandaBangladeshProtidin journalist facedsixchargesandwasputonthree-daypoliceremand.

Chart4:Violationsbymonth

Na1onalLevel49%

LocalLevel51%

9

103

7 11 16 229

3518 12 11

67

020406080100120

Print Electronic Online

82.8% 7.6% 9.7%


In46.9%ofthe147incidentswherejournalistsandonlineactivistsweretargeted,themaincausefortheviolationswasallegedcriminaldefamation, in11.6%itwasallegedcrimes such as sedition, and in3.4% the allegationswerebasedonharming religioussentiments. Notably, ARTICLE 19’s records demonstrate that journalists and onlineactivistshavebeentargetedforreportingonsensitiveissues,suchaslocal-levelcrimes,in14.3%ofallincidents,whilein12.9%oftheincidentstheyweretargetedforwritingaboutlocal-levelpoliticalpartyactivists,publicofficials,andhigh-levelpoliticiansandin5.4%forwritingaboutprotests.

Chart5:Causesofviolationsagainstjournalistsandonlineactivists

17

69

5 28

312

21

4 1 2 3

01020304050607080


Mappingofviolationsagainstjournalistsandonlineactivistsin2016

a) Attacksagainstphysicalintegrity

ARTICLE19’srecords indicate that in2016,62attacksagainstphysical integritywerecarried out, equalling 19.4% of the total violations against journalists and onlineactivists,which constitutes the secondhighest categoryof violationsafterharassmentthroughunwarrantedapplicationoflaws,whichamountedto39.1%ofallviolations.Atotal of 57 journalists and three online activists came under attack against physicalintegrity.

Killing:Thekillingsofthreejournalistsin2016includinganLGBTIactivistbroughtthetotalof journalistmurderedsince1995 to51, contributing toanatmosphereofself-censorship.Thevictimswere:

• XulhazMannan(editorofthecountry’sfirstandonlyLGBTImagazineRoopban)andhisfriend Khandaker Mahbub Rabbi Tonoy (a theatre activist): On 25 April, they werehacked to death by a group of extremist youths at Xulhaz’s Dhaka residence. Policesuspected Xulhaz’s involvement in the publication of the LGBTI magazine Roopban,launchedin2014,tobetheprimemotiveforhiskilling.On15May,thepolicearrestedasuspect and put him on three-day police remand. Since then no progress in theinvestigation has been reported .. Notably, Xulhaz had also been an organiser of theannual “rainbow rally” in Dhaka on 14 April, the beginning of the Bengali New Year.However, in 2016, the rally was cancelled on the instructions of the police. InBangladesh, homosexual sex is illegal and punishable. Following the killing, the LGBTIcommunityreportedlyfearedfortheirlivesandmanyofthemwentintohiding.

• NazimuddinSamad(secularonlineactivistandlawstudentatJagannathUniversity):On6 April, hewas brutally attacked and shot on a busy road in Dhaka. According to thepolice, his Facebook criticism dogmatic Islamic viewswere suspected to be the primemotiveforhismurder.Nazimuddin,anactivist inthewell-knownShahbaghmovementdemandingexecutionofwarcriminals,wasalsovocalagainstsocial injustice, includingthecaseof college studentSohagi JahanTanu,whowas rapedandkilled.Nazimuddinwasthefirstonlineactivistkilledin2016,whilein2015fouronlineactivistswerekilledinmachete attacks allegedly carried out by Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), an Islamicfundamentalist group. Police suspected that ABT members were also involved inNazimuddin’smurder. InOctober, thepolicearrestedasuspect,anallegedmemberofABT;however,chargeshaveyettobepressed.


Attempted Killing: In 2016, two incidents of this new form of silencing journalistsemerged,.Anational-levelandalocal-leveljournalistfacedthistypeofattack.

• ShakilHasan(StaffReporterofJamunaTelevision):On6November,ShakilHasan,alongwithcameraoperatorShahinAlam,wasgatheringinformationandmakingvideofootagefor reports against illegal polythene production inDhaka’s Chalkbazar district,when acohortof illegalpolythenefactoryownersattemptedtokillhimbypouring25 litresofkeroseneoverhisbody.Hewasabletoescapetoasafeshelter.AlthoughtheJamunaTelevision authority contacted the police forthwith, the officers reached the spot onlyonehourlater.Reportedly,thepolicepatroldidnotinterveneduringtheattack,andthefactoryowners,affiliatedwiththerulingAwamiLeague,stated“Killingjournalistshasnoconsequence.” Shakil filed an attempted murder charge and subsequently the policearrestedsomesuspectsbutallofthemwerefreedonbail.

• Mahibur Rahman Chowdhury Tasnu (Nabiganj upazila Correspondent ofNTV): On 27December, Mahibur was intercepted on his motorbike at the entrance to Nabiganj-Aushkandiroadbyabouteightpersonsandtheperpetrator,AbulHossain,attemptedtokillhimbyrunninghimoverwithatractor.Heevadedbeingrunoverbutwasbeatensobadlythatheneededninestichesandwashospitalisedforfivedays.Tasnubelievedthathisinvestigativereportonillegalactivitiesandcrimesmayhaveledtothebrutalattack.Police arrested the key perpetrator in the attempted murder case. However, theperpetratorwaslaterreleasedandon15January2017,withtheinterventionofthelocalUnionParishadChairman,thecasewassettledoutofcourtthroughreconciliation.

SeriousBodily Injuries: In2016,16 casesofbodily injurieswereobserved, equalling5% of all violations against journalists and online activists. Notably, serious bodilyinjuries were all inflicted upon local-level journalists and included beatings withmachetes, sticks, iron rods,microphones, and cleavers. The perpetrators ranged fromcriminal groups (i.e. local gamblers, drug peddlers and quack doctors), and lawenforcementagencies(i.e.prisonguards),toleadersandactivistsofpoliticalparties(i.e.the rulingAwami League), and elected public officials (i.e. amunicipalmayor).Whenlookingattheunderlyingcausesforseriousbodilyinjuriesinflicteduponjournalistsandonlineactivists,itbecomesclearthattheyweremorevulnerablewhencoveringhighlysensitiveissues,suchaschildmarriage,orclasheswithprisonguards.Forinstance:

• Babul Hossain, Omer Razib, and Osman Goni (Dhamrai Correspondents with DailyAmader Shomoy, Daily Amar Sangbad and Local Daily Jalamoyee, respectively) werebeaten heavily on 17 August, while covering child marriage in a village in Dhamraiupazila,andsustainedsuchseriousbodilyinjuriesatthehandsofthebrideandgroom’sfamilies that they had to be hospitalised. Babul is still suffering from sight problems,whileRazib’slefthandwasfractured.Babul’sfatherfiledacaseagainst18persons,allofwhom are now on bail. In September, the police pressed charges against theperpetrators.


• AnisMahmud(photojournalistwithProthomAlo),ShohidulIslam(photojournalistwithSakaler Khobor, a national daily),Mamun Hossain (photojournalist with Jogo bheri, alocaldaily),andYusufAli(photojournalistwithSamakal)werephysicallyattackedon21July as they photographed a clash between aggressive Sylhet Prison Guards andmembersoftheBangladeshChattraLeague.About20prisonguardsbeatthejournalistswith sticks as a result of which AnisMahmud sustained serious bodily injuries to hishandsand left legwhichrequiredhospitalisation..Nineprisonguardsweretransferredtodifferentdutiesfortheirinvolvementintheincident;however,thepolicedidnottakeanyfurtheraction.

Reportingonlocal-levelcrimes,suchasillegalgamblingandcorruption,alsoincreasedlocal-level journalists’ vulnerability to serious bodily injury as the following examplesillustrate:

• Mahbubur Rahman Chowdhury (Golapganj upazila correspondent ofbanglanewsuk.com) was beaten by followers of a former mayor and ruling AwamiLeagueleaderofGolapganjmunicipalityinSylheton15Februaryashereportedonthepolitician’s alleged corruption. Mahbubur was hospitalised for 23 days and needed amajor operation on his left hand. He filed a case for attempted murder. The policepressedchargesinJanuary2017.

• Sarkar Arifur Rahman Arab Ali (acting editor of local daily A Juger Deep): On 15November, the journalistwasbeatenbya groupallegedlyhiredby themayorofBeraupazila because his newspaper had published many reports on the mayor’s allegedcorruption. A case was filed with the police the next day but no progress in theinvestigationhasbeennoted.

• Kamruzzaman Shahin (reporter of local news portal Bholarsangbad.com): On 26November,theownerofadentalclinicandhisbrotherbeatthejournalistforreportingonillegaldentalclinics.Kamruzzamanfiledacasewiththelocalpolicebuttheydidnotregister it and although initially they carried out a raid to arrest the perpetrators, theinvestigationdidnotcontinue.Kamruzzamancouldnotfilethecasewiththecourtashelearntthattheperpetratorswerepreparedtofileafalsecaseimplicatinghiminstead.

• SujauddinRubel(Cox'sBazarcorrespondentofSomoyTV):On13May,hewasattackedwithcleaversandhitwithastickandamicrophonebyyabapeddlersforcoveringyabapeddlinginTeknafupazilainCox’sBazar.

• Md Nazrul Islam (Staff reporter of Amader Somoy, and secretary of MymensinghDivisional Press Club): On 18 September, 10 to 12 persons beat him heavily as theyfearedthathewouldreportontheircrimes.Nazruldidnotfileacaseashewasafraidofbeingtargetedagain.ThematterwasresolvedthroughreconciliationontheinterventionofthelocalUnionParishadchairman.


Finally,cameraoperatorsandphotojournalistsweretargetedforcollectingfootageoflocal-levelcrimesandelectionfraud.

• Azharul Hoque, Atikur Rahman Amin, and Abdullah Al Mamun (Gazipur districtcorrespondentswithRTV,Mohona TV andGazi TV, respectively)were attackedon 20June, while making video footage of illegal gambling at Shirirchala in Sadar upazila,Gazipur.About30gamblersattackedthejournalistswithmachetes,sticks,ironrods,andmicrophonessothattheyneededtobehospitalisedforthreedays.On21June,Atikurregisteredacasewiththepoliceagainst24namedandsevenunnamedpersonsbutthecasewasresolvedoutofcourtthroughreconciliation.

• Nirob Chowdhury (photojournalist with Prothom Alo in Khagrachari): In December,Nirobsustainedseriousbodilyinjurywhenhewasassaultedbyalocalmunicipalmayorfor photographing the illegal extraction of sand from Chengi River and needed to behospitalised for threedays.He is still suffering fromhearing impairment, and requiressurgery.

• SumonRoy (CameraoperatorwithATNBangla):On23April, supportersofanAwamiLeague-backedcandidatefortheUnionParishadelectionsbeatSumonformakingvideofootage of fake voting in Union Parishad election at a polling centre in Sarail Upazila,Brahmanbaria district. Sumon was hospitalised, and suffered hearing impairmentthatneeded treatmentabroad.Sumon fileda caseagainst threepersons, including thecandidate. In June, the police pressed charges; however, after the intervention of thedistrictAwamiLeagueSecretarythecasewasresolvedoutofcourt.

MinorAssaults: A total of 38minor assaultswere sustainedby local-level journalistsafter being attacked with iron rods, sticks, bricks, microphones, and cleavers. Theperpetratorsrangedfromcriminalgroups(i.e.localgamblers,drugdealers),toleadersand activists with political parties (i.e. the ruling Awami League, and the BangladeshChatra League3), and elected public officials (i.e. municipal mayors, governmentofficials).Cameraoperatorsandphotojournalistswereparticularlyvulnerabletominorassaults in various incidents when covering local-level crimes, or actions of localpoliticalactivistsandpublicofficials:

• Tawfiqul Islam Lipu (Cox's Bazar correspondent for Independent Television), andFarajUddin, Shariful Islam, and Babu Kanti Dey (camera operators with Somoy TV,IndependentTV,andEkattorTV,respectively)sustainedminorassaultinjurieson13Maywhen theywere attacked by a yaba trader’s hired gang for covering illegal trading inTeknafupazila.On15May,acasewasfiledwiththelocalpolicestationandthepolicearrested three persons.On 25May, the police pressed charges against 18 persons. In

3AstudentbodyaffiliatedtotherulingAwamiLeague.


November,thecourtagreedtoproceedagainsttheperpetratorsbuttheaccusedfiledareviewpetitionagainsttheorderonwhichthehearingwasbeingheld.

• KamalDey(ChittagongBureauchiefofSomoyTV),RomenDashGuptaandUzzalDhar(Special Correspondent andSeniorphotojournalist ofBanglanews24.com respectively),andAnurupKantiDash(photojournalistwithTheDailyStar)werephysicallyassaultedbya Hindu religious fundamentalist youth group in Chittagong on 7 December. Thejournalistsfiledacase;however,astheparentsoftheyouthsofferedapologies,thecasewaswithdrawn.

• JewelShil(photojournalistwithProthomAlo)wasphysicallyassaultedbyaBangladeshChatraLeagueunitinChittagongcityon17Februaryforphotographingtheirattackonamotorcycleriderandhisphotosweredeleted.JewelfiledapolicereportandinJanuary2017thepolicepressedchargesagainstthreeaccused.

• SagarAhmed (Kaliakoir upazila correspondentof thedailyAlokitoBangladesh):On29June, Sagar was beaten by Forest Department staff as he photographed theperpetrators’ illegal extortion fromdriverson theDhaka-Tangail highway inKharajora,KaliakoirupazilainGazipur.ThepolicerescuedSagarandarrestedanagentoftheForestDepartment.SagarAhmedfiledacomplaintwiththelocalpolicestationbutnocasewasregisteredandtheissuewasresolvedthroughreconciliation.

• Adhir Rajbangshi (Srinagar upazila correspondent of Bhorer Kagoj) and Mir Ratul(Srinagarupazila correspondentof thedailyRoopbani)werebeatenbya group ledbytwo Awami League leaders when photographing an attack on the house of anindependent chairman candidate of the polls. The police pressed charges but as theyspared a local Awami League leader the journalists filed a Naraji petition in January2017.4

Inseparateincidents,thefollowingminorassaultsoccurred:

• MilonKhondokar(GaibandhadistrictcorrespondentofthedailyJanata)sustainedminor assault while covering alleged corruption of the Gaibandha Deed-writer’sAssociationpresidentandsub-registrar’soffice.ThepolicepressedchargesinMarch2017butthemainperpetratorisnowonbail.

• Nayan Khandaker (Kaliganj Correspondent of the daily Amader Somoy andorganising secretary of Kaliganj Press Club in Jhenaidah district) was physicallyassaulted by a group at the Kaliganj upazila parishad for writing a report on thearrestofthemunicipalmayoron4February.Nayanwasrescuedbypoliceandfiledareport;however,nofurtheractionwastakenbythepolice.

4ANarajipetitionisadefencepetition.


Abduction:In2016,onejournalistwasabductedandbeatenwhiletherewereattemptstoabducttwojournaliststheircoverageofdrugdealing.Theincidentsincluded:

NirobChowdhury (Photojournalist forProthomAlo)wasabducted inDecemberbyagang connected to a localmunicipalmayor inKhagrachari as he photographed illegalsandextractionfromtheChengiRiver.SomeothercasesincludeattemptedabductionofSujauddin Rubel and Tawfiqul Islam Lipu, Cox’s Bazar correspondent of SomoyTelevisionandIndependentTelevisionrespectively.

b) Intimidationandthreats

ARTICLE19recordedthatatotalof48journalistswereintimidatedtostoptheirwritingandraisingtheirvoicesagainstillegalactivitiesandlocal-levelcorruption.Intimidationwas widely used to silence journalists by a variety of actors and in several casesincluding mayors, a former mayor and ruling party leader, government officials, andeven lawmakers, such as in the case ofRahulDash (Staff Reporter of the local dailyPurbadesh) who was threatened on 22 October by an Awami League MP for theBashkhaliConstituencyashesought informationunder the2009Right to InformationAct about development work carried out the previous year in Bashkhali upazila,Chittagong district. Intimidation constituted 15% of the total violations againstjournalists andonline activists andwasoftenused in conjunctionwithother typesofviolations, such as serious bodily injuries and abduction, as some of the followingincidentsillustrate:

• On 20 December, 36 local-level journalists were threatened with death by a gangallegedlyhiredbythemayorofKhagrachariwhentheyorganisedaprotestrallyagainsthim forassaultingand intimidating journalistNirobChowdhuryofProthomAlo.Whenhe had photographed illegal sand extraction from the Chengi River, the gang hadabductedhim,threatenedtocuthishandsoff,andthemayorhimselfhadbeatenhimseverely. Subsequently, Nirob filed a police report alleging physical assault andintimidation, and the journalist community arranged a protest rally during which thegangsnatchedmicrophonesfromajournalist,threatenedthemwithdeath,andalsosaidtheywouldsetfiretothe”denofjournalists”.Fearingfortheirlives,thejournalistsfiledajointreportwiththepolice.Afterapoliceinvestigation,thecourtregisteredthecases;however,nobodyhasyetbeenarrested.Nirobstated,“Theincidentforcedustoremainat home after sunset as our lives are at risk while the perpetrators are at large tocontinue threateningus”.The threatened journalists include:TarunKumar andMiltanChakmaofIttefaq,HMProfulloofBanglaVisionTV,JoyontyDewanandPalashBaruaofProthomAlo,DidarulAlamRajuofChannel9,DilipChowdhuryofChannel I,SaikatDewan of DBC News,Nurul Azam of SA TV, Bhag Datto Chakma of Bhorer Kagoj, SChakmaSattojitofthedailyOronnoBarta,ChinmepruChakmaofETV,RupayanDewanofEkattorTV,Al-MamunofthedailyDinkal,ProdipChowdhuryofSamakal,Lokmanof


SangbadProtidin,Md.ZamanofParbortoNews,MainUddinofDainikAmarSangbad,NazimUddinofDeeptoTV,NurussafaManikofAlokitoBangladesh,Al-AminofProthomBhor,ShankarChowdhuryofBhorerPata,Md.NurHossainofDainikKhaborpatro,JibonChowdhury of Suprobhat Bangladesh, Sohel Rana of Bangladesh Somoy,Md. ZulhazUddinofSabujPatarDesh,AbdurRahimofthedailyJanata,ChaithowayMarmaofNewAge,SujonBaruaofDainikMuktoKhobor,BiplobTalukderof71TV,LitonBatyachariaofDainikSangbad,RiponSarkarofDainikJaiJaiDin,KanonAcharyaofMachrangaTV,AzharHiraofManobzamin,andAbuDaudofKalerkantho.

• Shimanto Khokon (Brahmanbaria district correspondent of the online news portalpriyo.com) was threatened with death and sexual assault by a BangladeshTelecommunication Company Limited (BTCL) staff member on 26 June for writing areportthatallegedcorruptionofsomecompanyofficials inBrahmanbaria.On26June,thejournalistnotifiedthepolicecasebutnoactionhasbeentaken.

• KalyanBenarjee(SatkhiradistrictcorrespondentofProthomAlo)receivedadeaththreaton28JuneforwritingareportonallegedirregularitiesandcorruptioninagovernmentfoodwarehouseinSatkhirasadarupazila.Kalyanreceivedthethreatthroughthemailina letter, together with pieces of red cloth and a shroud. Also in the letter, anotherjournalist, Yarab Hossain (district correspondent of the daily Manabzamin) wasthreatenedwithhavinghishandscutoff.Thepoliceinterrogatedasuspectforonehourbutdidnotpursuethematterfurther.

c) Harassmentthroughunwarrantedapplicationoflaws

In 2016, ARTICLE 19 found 125 counts of harassment through the unwarrantedapplication of different laws including the 1860 Penal Code, the Information andCommunicationTechnologyAct2006(amendedin2013),andthe1974SpecialPowersAct. This constituted 39.1% of the total violations. The number of violations wasaugmentedasTheDailyStareditorMahfuzAnamwasimplicatedin83casesbyleadersand activists of the ruling Awami League and by the cases against local journalistNazmulHudaofBangladeshProtidin

AccordingtoARTICLE19’srecords,journalistsandonlineactivistswereimplicatedandarrested in the following typesof cases:a)CriminalDefamationconstituted24.4%,b)Vexatious Cases 7.8%, and c) Criminalisation of Online Expression, 6.9% of the totalviolations.Notably, in2016differentpiecesof legislationwereused in conjunction tosilencejournalistsandonlineactivists.Forinstance:

• MahfuzAnam(EditorofTheDailyStar)faced66criminaldefamationcases,and17casesfiled with vexatious intent for alleged sedition by leaders and activists of the rulingAwamiLeagueanditsaffiliatedbodiesacrossthecountry,afterhisadmissionregardinga lapse in editorial judgement while publishing a report containing unverified


information.TheHighCourtDivisionstayed82casesbetweenAprilandJune,whichhadbeen filed in at least 56 districtswhile the other casewas rejected by a lower court.MahfuzsecuredbailinthosecasesfromtheHighCourtandlowercourt.Thejournalists’community condemned the series of cases brought against Mahfuz Anam as“harassment”.

• NazmulHuda(SavarCorrespondentofBangladeshProtidin)wasarrestedunderSection57of the ICTActon23December foranallegedattempttoundermine lawandorderthroughhisreportontheAshuliagarmentworkers’movementwageincreasedemand.Afterthreedaysinpoliceremand,Nazmulwasgrantedbailon23January2017butwasinformed, surprisingly, that hehad been implicated in five other vexatious cases fourcasesunderthe thedraconian1974SpecialPower’sActandonetheftcaseunderthePenalCode1860.On14February,Nazmulwasgrantedbailandfinallyreleasedaftertwomonthsinprison.Uponhisrelease,hestated

d) CriminalDefamation• In2016,78countsof this typeofviolation, including66casesagainstDailyStarEditor

Mahfuz Anam alone, were used to silence journalists and online activists. Thisconstitutes62.4%ofallcountsofharassmentthroughunwarrantedapplicationoflaws.Otherexamples includeAbuAlMorsalinBabla (editorandpublisherof the localdailyJugerChinta)wasimplicatedintwocriminaldefamationcasesunderthePenalCodeinDecember:firstbyanAwamiLeagueleaderforpublishingareportonallegedcorruption,and second by a labour organisation leader for reporting on a contested election inNarayanganj.Inthefirstcase,thejournalistsecuredbailinJanuary2017andthecaseispendingtrial.Inthesecondcase,thelowercourtaskedthepolicetoinvestigate.

e) VexatiousCases

In2016,25countsofvexatiouscaseshavebeenrecorded.Thisconstitutes20%ofallcountsofharassmentthroughunwarrantedapplicationoflaws.Forinstance:

• Md.AkterHossain (Debidhar upazila correspondent for Jugantor)was implicated in acaseofdemandingextortioninNovemberashetriedtogatherinformationforareportonaschoolteacherwhohadbeensuspendedforsexualassaultbutcontinuedteachingintheschool.Hesecuredbail.


f) Criminalisationofonlineexpression

In2016,22countsofcriminalisationofonlineexpressionwerenoted.Thisconstitutes17.6% of all counts of harassment through unwarranted application of laws. Forinstance:

• Shamsuzzoha Manik and Shamsul Alam (respectively, the proprietor andmarketingdivisionheadof theBa-dwhipPrakashanpublishinghouse),andTaslimUddin Kajol (owner of the Shabdakoli printing company) were arrested on 15February for allegedly hurting Islamic religious sentiments by publishing a booktitledIslamBitorko(“DebateonIslam”).ThearreststookplaceunderSection57ofthe ICTAct as the book, a collection of essays,was available online. Shamsuzzohawas imprisoned formore than8monthsbeforehewasgrantedbail inNovember,whileShamsulandTaslimwerealreadyreleasedonbailinJune.Beforetheirarrest,policeshutdowntheBa-dwhip’sstallattheAmarEkusheyBookFairinFebruaryforsellingthebook.Theyalsoseizedcopiesofthebookandseveralotherbooksdeemedtobecriticalof Islam.Thepolicealsosealedoff theofficeof thepublishinghouseandithasremainedclosed.

• RasrajDas(aHinduyouth)wasarrestedinNovemberunderSection57oftheICTAct for allegedly hurting Islamic religious sentiments by a Facebook postcaricaturing Qaba, which on 30 October triggered a brutal attack on the Hinducommunity in Nasirnagar, Brahmanbaria, where hundreds of households and 15placesofworshipwereburneddown.Rasrajsecuredbailon17January2017.

• SiddiqurRahmanKhan (editor of the education-basedonlinenewsportalDainikShiksha)wasarrestedon1SeptemberunderSection57oftheICTActforallegedlycommitting defamation by publishing a report about the alleged corruption andirregularities of an ex-government official. The case was filed against him on 29August by the previous director general of secondary and higher educationdirectorate,FahimaKhatun,whoisalsothesisterandwifeofQamrulIslam,cabinetminister for food, and RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury MP, respectively, whoclaimedthatthereporthaddefamedandtarnishedherimageandthatofthestate.Hesecuredbailon6September.

• 11 local-level journalists were implicated under Section 57 of the ICT Act forpublishing reports alleging that Jalal Uddin, a lawyer, had circulated pamphletsadvocating for communal hatred in Kalapara upazila, Patuakhali district inSeptember. The journalists were: Reshma Yasmin, Shahin Hafiz and KabirTalukdar (the publisher, executive editor and news editor of Dokhiner Mukhrespectively), S K Ronjan (photographer of the local daily Dokhiner Mukh ofKolapara),ChonchalSaha(reporterofthelocaldailyDokhinerMukh),NurulAlom


FaridiandAhmedJalal(theeditorandpublisher,andthenewseditorofthelocaldailyBiplobiBangladeshrespectively),Md.DelowarHosain(editorofNews24.comofKalapara),Md.Md.NuruzzamanMamun,MosarafHossainandUttamKumarHawladar(theeditor,theexecutiveeditorandthereporterofKuakatanews24.com).The case is now under investigation following a court order on the plea of JalalUddin.

• SaifulIslamChowdhury(editorandpublisherofthelocalnewspaperDailyBakkhali)wasarrested on 5October after a government official filed a case against him for allegeddefamationunderSection57oftheICTActforpublishingareportwithacaricature.Hesecuredbailon7November.

g) Arrestsorpoliceremand

Throughout 2016, there were 18 arrests and five instances of police remand underdifferentlaws.These23violationsconstitute7.2%ofallviolationsfacedbyjournalistsandonlineactivists.Outofthe23violations,69.6%occurredundertheICTAct,17.4%under the Special Powers Act on sedition charges, and 9.4% under the Penal Code.Notably, the ICT Act was used as a reason in 80% of police remands and 66.7% ofarrests.Someexamplesinclude:

• NazmulHuda(journalistwiththeBangladeshProtindinnewspaper)wasimprisonedfortwomonthsonsixcharges,includinganICTviolation.

• ShafikRehman (editor of themonthlyMouchakeDil)was arrestedon16April for hisallegedinvolvementinanattempttoabductandmurderthePrimeMinister’sICTadviserandhissonSajeebWajed Joy.Shafikwas thenputonpolice remandfor fivedaysandsecuredbailfromtheAppellateDivisionoftheSupremeCourtinAugust.

• Md.Asaduzzaman(staffreporterforthedailynewspaperProthomAlo)washandedovertopolicebylawyers,whocomplainedthathehadbreachedsomeprovisionsoftheICTAct.Hewasremandedincustodyforeighthoursandthenreleasedasthepolicedecidednottopursuetheallegations.

h) Gender-basedviolations

ARTICLE19recordedonly fourgender-basedviolations throughout2016,1.3%of thetotalviolations;however,thesefiguresdonotreflecttheactualnumberofoccurrencesof this type of violation, as in most cases victims do not report them for fear ofrepercussions. The following examples illustrate the different forms of gender-basedviolationsencounteredbyfemalejournalists:


• AfemalejournalistinDhakafacedsexualharassmentandthreatsfromaninfluentialpersoninhermediahouseinJanuary.Consequently,sheconsideredleavingtheprofession,AsimilarincidenttookplaceagainsttheadistrictcorrespondentofGTVwhofacedverbalsexualabusebyamalejournalistwhilecoveringaschooleventinMay.Shecomplainedtothelocalpressclubbuttheydidnottakeanyaction.

• Nargis Lilda (former sub-editor of the daily Deshbangla) faced gender-based wagediscriminationinthreemediahouseswhenapplyingforanewjob.

i) Destructionofequipmentand/orproperty

ARTICLE 19’s records suggest that the destruction of equipment and/or property iswidelyusedagainstjournalistsandonlineactiviststosilencethem.Fifty-eightviolationswererecorded,equalling18.1%ofthetotalnumberofviolations.Thisincludedtheftof14mobilephones,12cameras,onelaptopandsomecash,anddamagingeightcameras,fourmobilephones, onemicrophone, fourmotorcycles, onebus, andone car. Inmostincidents, the destruction of equipment and/or propertywas used against journalistsand online activists for reporting on local-level crimes, local-level party politicalactivists,and sensitive social issues suchas childmarriage.For instance,on2 January,the office of the local newspaperDaily Cox Bazar 71 was vandalised and furniture, atelevisionset,andtwocomputersweredamagedafteritranaseriesofreportsagainstillegalgambling.ThepolicepressedchargesinDecemberbuttheaccusedareyettobearrested. The destruction of equipment and/or property also mostly occurred inconjunctionwithothertypesofviolations,suchasin:

• Two incidents of attempted killing, affecting Shakil Hasan and Shahin Alam (staffreporter and camera operator with Jamuna Television respectively), and MahiburChowdhuryTasnu,(NabiganjupazilacorrespondentofNTV);

• Three incidentsofseriousbodily injuries,affectingAzharulHoque,AtikurRahmanandAbdullahAlMamun (GazipurdistrictcorrespondentsforRTV,MohonaTV,andGaziTVrespectively),BabulHossain,OmerRazibandOsmanGoni(DhamraicorrespondentsforDailyAmaderShomoy,DailyAmarSangbadandthelocaldailyJalamoyeerespectively),andAnisMahmud(photojournalistforProthomAlo),ShohidulIslam(photojournalistofSakalerKhobor),MamunHossain,photojournalistofalocaldailyJugoBheri)andYusufAli(photojournalistforSamakal);and

• Sixincidentsofminorassault,affectingTawfiqulIslamLipu(Cox'sBazarcorrespondentfor Independent Television), Faraj Uddin, Shariful Islam, and Babu Kanti Dey (cameraoperators with Somoy TV, Independent TV and Ekattor TV respectively), ShahinurRahman Shahin (Ashulia correspondent with Naya Diganta), Anwar Hossain(Chapainawabganj Correspondent for the daily Prothom Alo) and Abdur Rab Nahid(CorrespondentofwiththelocaldailyGourBangla),AdhirRajbangshi(SrinagarupazilacorrespondentforBhorerKagoj)andMirRatul (Srinagarupazilacorrespondentforthe


dailyRoopbani)andSagarAhmed(KaliakoirupazilacorrespondentforthedailyAlokitoBangladesh).


Protectionofjournalistsandonlineactivistsin2016

a) Impunity

According to ARTICLE 19’s records, victims took legal action against perpetrators in66.7% of the violations where they were complainants, including killing, attemptedkilling, serious bodily injury, minor assault, abduction, intimidation and threat, andgender-basedviolations. In termsof the victims, 33.3%victimsdidnot take any legalactionforvariousreasons,suchaslackofknowledgeofthelaw,fearofbeingtargetedagain, or the non-cooperation of law enforcement agencies, press associations, andrespectivemediahouses.

Chart6:Legalactionfollowingviolationsagainstjournalistsandonlineactivists

Thirty two cases have been filed reporting incidents where a journalist or onlineactivistswassubjectedtoattacksagainstphysical integrity, intimidationandthreat,ordestruction of equipment and/or property. Of these, 56.3% were still underinvestigation. For example, no major development has been observed in theinvestigations into the three killings of the LGBTImagazine editor, his friend and theonline activists. Thirty-six intimidated journalists still live in fear and face continuousintimidationfromthefollowersofamayorwhobeatandabductedthephotojournalistworking forProthomAlo.Only in34.4%ofcaseswas the investigationcompletedandchargesbrought.Notably,9.4%ofthecaseswereresolvedoutofcourt.

InDecember,alowercourtdeliveredaverdictinthecaseofjournalistManikSaha,whowasmurderedinabombattack12yearsago,sentencingnineoftheelevenaccusedtolifeimprisonmentandacquittinganothertwo.However,overallonlytwoofthe51caseswhere journalistshadbeenkilledsince1995resulted inconvictions,whilemostcasesdidnotpassbeyondtheinvestigationstage.

Yes66.67%

No33.33%


Whileinsomecasespolicehaveintervenedandprotectedjournalists,forinstancewhenSagar Ahmed (Kaliakoir upazila correspondent for the daily Alokito Bangladesh) wasbeaten by Forest Department staff for photographing extortion activities, or whenNayanKhandaker(KaliganjCorrespondentwiththedailyAmaderSomoy)wasphysicallyassaultedbyagroupattheKaliganjupazilaparishadforwritingareportonthearrestofthe municipal mayor; however in other instances, the non-cooperation of lawenforcementagenciesandpressassociationscontinuedtoseverelyaffectjournalistsandonline activists. For instance, although the Jamuna Television authority contacted thepolice immediately after the attempt to kill staff reporter Shakil Hasan, the officersreachedthespotonlyonehourlaterandreportedlyapolicepatrolhadnotintervenedduring the attack. Both Kamruzzaman Shahin (reporter with the local news portalBholarsangbad.com) anda femaledistrict correspondentofGTVhighlighted that theirlocalpressclubsdidnotofferthemanysupportaftertheyfacedbodilyinjuryandverbalsexualharassmentrespectively.

b) Perpetrators

ARTICLE19’srecordsindicatethatnon-stateactors,suchaspoliticalpartyleadersandactivists, criminal groups, and religious fundamentalists were the perpetrators in86.90%of the 147 incidents,which resulted in 320 violations against journalists andonline activists. By contrast, state actors, including elected public officials, lawenforcementagencies,andgovernmentofficials,weretheperpetratorsin10.34%oftheincidentsand2.76%oftheperpetratorscouldnotbeidentified.

Chart7:Percentageofactorsinvolvedinattacksagainstjournalistsandonlineactivists

Ofthenon-stateactors:

• 66.90%were leadersandactivistsof therulingAwamiLeagueand itsaffiliatedbodies,includingBangladeshChatraLeague,andShecchashebakLeague;

Stateactors10.34%

Non-stateactors86.90%

Unidendfied2.76%


• 6.89% were criminal groups, including drug dealers, product syndicates, ATMimpersonators, quack doctors, extortionists, illegal gamblers, and illegal polythenefactoryowners;

• 2.07%werereligiousfundamentalists,includingMuslimandHindu;and• 11.03%wereothersincludinglawyers,journalists,businessmen,diagnosticcentrestaff,

andteachers.

Ofthestate-actors:

• 4.83%werelawenforcementagencies,includingpoliceandRapidActionBattalionRAB• 2.76%weregovernmentofficials(excludinglawenforcementagencies),• 2.76%wereelectedpublicofficebearers

Chart8:Percentageofperpetratorscarryingoutattacksagainstjournalistsandonlineactivists

Poli1calpartyleadersandac1vists

66.90%

Electedpublicofficials2.76%

Govt.Official(excludingLawenforcementagencies)2.76%

Lawenforcementagencies4.83%

Criminalgroups6.89%

Uniden1fied2.76%

Religiousfundamentalists

2.07% Others11.03%


Policyinterventions

a)TheBroadcastingAct(Draft)2016

The Draft Broadcast Act, which will regulate television channels, radio stations, andonlinemedia,hastheprovisionofconstitutingaseven-memberBroadcastCommission,which is empowered to issue recommendations for licensing, prepare guideline forbroadcasters,receivecomplaintsaboutbroadcastcontents,andtakeactionagainstcodeof conduct violations. The draft released on 30 November for public consultation,containsseveralprovisionsrelatedtofreedomofexpression.Inparticularthepowersofthe Broadcasting Commission in cases of content regulation on obscenity, nationalsecurityand incitement is toobroadandmustbebrought into linewith internationalhumanrightsstandards.

b)TheDigitalSecurityAct(Draft)2016

Thecabineton22AugustapprovedtheDraftDigitalSecurityActonPrinciple.Thedraftlawhastheprovisionofpunishmentuptolifeimprisonmentandatenmilliontakafinefor spreading propaganda against the Liberation War and the Father of the Nation,Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, through digital devices. It, however, does notstipulatethecomponentsofsuchpropaganda.Definitionsofmanycrimesmentionedinthedraft are “overbroad andwide” and there is a possibility formisusenow that thenumberof Internetusershasgrown,according to theBangladeshTelecommunicationRegulatoryCommission(BTRC).5

c)TheForeignDonations(VoluntaryActivities)RegulationsAct2016TheForeignDonations(VoluntaryActivities)RegulationAct2016cameintoeffecton6November to regulate the operations of NGOs in Bangladesh. It requires all foreign-funded NGOs to submit all projects for approval to the NGO Affairs Bureau.he Act isvaguelywordedanddoesneitherspecifyonwhichgroundstheBureaucouldrejectormakechangestoproposedprojects,nora timeframefor theirapproval.Thisgives theauthoritiesawidediscretion to interfere in theworkofNGOs,cancelprojects theydonot agree with, and leave NGOs in legal limbo for an extended period of time. TheBureau is also granted the power to “inspect, monitor and evaluate” the activities offoreign-fundedNGOsandcanimposesanctionsonNGOswhocommitanytheoffenceslisted intheAct.Penaltiesrange fromacautionary letter,a fine,or thecancellationorsuspensionoftheregistrationofanNGO,oritsindividualprojects,anddependlargelyonthediscretionoftheBureau.TheNGOcanonlyappealagainsttheBureau’sdecision

5SeeARTICLE19’slegalanalysesofthelaw:https://www.article19.org/resources.php/resource/38368/en/bangladesh:-draft-digital-security-act


to the Prime Minister’s Office, whose verdict is final, leaving no option for judicialoversight or effective remedy. Finally, theNGOBureau can cancel the registrations offoreign-funded NGOs if they make derogatory and offensive remarks against theconstitutionoraconstitutionalbody.RightsgroupsandARTICLE19alongwithothersexpressedconcernthatthelawgivessweepingpowerstotheNGOBureautoarbitrarilycancel the registration of NGOs simply for exercising their right to freedom ofexpressionandcriticisinggovernmentbodies.

e)DraftCommunityRadioInstallation,BroadcastandOperationPolicy,2016

On 24 September, the Information Ministry released the draft Community RadioInstallation, Broadcast and Operation Policy, 2016 for public consultation. Under theproposed policy, a nine-member National Regulatory Committee will be formed andempowered to change or amend the policy relating to community radio installation,broadcastandoperation,tomonitortheapplicablerules,andtoissuerecommendationsfortheapprovalofcommunityradiostations.Thepolicyrequiresthatcommunityradiostations should be operated on a non-profit basis by an organisation, institution orgroupforbroadcastingprogrammeson“community issues,andnoprivateenterpriseorpartnership, political parties or their affiliated bodies, international or foreign NGOs orforeignbroadcastmediaoragencywillbelicensed”.

f)DraftTelecommunicationsPolicy

On26June,thecabinetapprovedthedraftoftheNationalTelecommunicationsPolicy,2016, aimed at boosting teledensity, Internet penetration, and expanding broadbandfacilities.Thedraftpolicyhasbeenformulatedprimarilyforaten-yearperiod,withthetarget of increasing teledensity from the current 80% to 90%by 2018. Other targetsinclude boosting Internet penetration from 34% to 45%, expansion of mobilebroadband from 7% to 20%, and the expansion of optical fibre connections in everydistrict and upazila headquarters and 2,000 unions in the country.


KeyFindingsandRecommendations

We have found the following key trends and patterns in silencing those exercisingfreedomofpressandexpression:

2016sawanotableincreaseinthenumberofviolationsagainst journalistsandonlineactivists compared to previous years. This year journalists and online activists weresubjectedto320violations,comparedto213in2014,and271in2013.

Harassmentthroughunwarrantedapplicationoflawsposesthemostsignificantthreattofreedomofexpression

In 2016, various laws have been used to silence journalists and online activists,including the Penal Code 1860, the Information and Communication Technology Act2006 (amended in 2013), and the Special Powers Act 1974. The use of criminaldefamation has increased seven-fold over the past three years and amounted to 78cases,comparedtoonly10in2014.Thisconstitutes62.4%ofallcountsofharassmentthrough the unwarranted application of laws. In addition, with 25 counts the use ofvexatiouscasesremainedapproximatelyatthesamelevel.TheuseofSection57oftheICTAct for the criminalisation of online expression remained significant. In 2016,wehaveseen22cases,equalling17.6%ofallcountsofharassment.Wehavealsofoundthatthis year different laws have been used in conjunction to harass targeted individuals,suchasTheDailyStareditorMahfuzAnam,whofaced66criminaldefamationcasesand17casesfiledwithavexatiousintentofallegedseditionbyleadersandactivistsoftheruling Awami League and its affiliated bodies across the country, after his admissionregarding a lapse in editorial judgment for publishing a report containing unverifiedinformation.AnotherexampleisNazmulHuda(SavarCorrespondentfortheBangladeshProtidinnewspaper)whowasarrestedunderSection57oftheICTActandimplicatedinfiveothervexatiouscases.

Attacksagainstphysicalintegrityremainsignificant

Thisyearthecumulativepercentageofphysicalattacksis19.4%ofallviolations,whichconstitutes the second highest category of violations after harassment through theunwarranted application of laws. While the numbers of serious bodily injuries andminorassaultssawadecreasebyalmosthalf to16and38,respectively,overthepastthreeyears,threecasesofabductionwerenotedandthreekillingscontributedtocreateanatmosphereofself-censorship.

Destructionofequipmentand/orpropertyreachesunprecedentedlevels

Thedestructionofequipmentand/orpropertyemergedasthethirdhighestcategoryofviolationsasthetrendtousethisviolationtosilencejournalistsandonlineactivistssawasteepincreasefromonlysevencasesin2014to58casesin2016,equalling18.13%ofthetotalnumberofviolations.Thismeasurewasparticularlyusedtosilencelocal-level


camera operators and photojournalists when reporting on local-level crimes,corruption, local-level political activists, high-level politicians, public officials, andsensitiveissues,suchaschildmarriage.

Protestagainstphysicalattackscausesthreatsandintimidation

In2016,wehaveseenthismeasurebeingwidelyusedas36journalistswerethreatenedas a group when organising a protest against the physical attack and abduction of afellow journalist by followers of a municipal mayor. In total, 48 journalists wereintimidated to stopwriting and raising their voices against illegal activities and local-level corruption.The toolwaswidelyused tosilence journalistsbyavarietyofactorsand in several cases including mayors, a former mayor and ruling party leader,governmentofficials,andevenMPs,suchasinthecaseofRahulDash(StaffReporterforthe local daily Purbadesh) who was threatened by an Awami League MP for theBashkhali as he sought information under the Right to Information Act 2009.Intimidation constituted 15% of the total violations against journalists and onlineactivists, and was often used in conjunction with other types of violations, such asseriousbodilyinjuriesandabduction.

Impunityyettoseesubstantialdecline

Out of the 32 police reports or cases filed for incidents where journalists or onlineactivistsweresubjectedtoattacksagainstphysicalintegrity,intimidationandthreat,ordestructionofequipmentand/orproperty,56.3%werestillunderinvestigation.Onlyin34.4% of caseswas the investigation completed and charges brought.While in somecasespolicehaveintervenedandprotectedjournalistswhowerephysicallyassaulted,inother instances, thenon-cooperationof lawenforcementagenciesand lackof tangiblesupport from press associations continued to severely affect journalists and onlineactivists.

InDecember,alowercourtdeliveredaverdictinthecaseofjournalistManikSaha,whowasmurderedinabombattack12yearsago,sentencingnineoftheelevenaccusedtolifeimprisonmentandacquittinganothertwo.However,overallonlytwoofthe51caseswherejournalistshavebeenkilledsince1995sawconvictions,whilemostcasesdidnotpassbeyondtheinvestigationstage.

Localjournalistsstillfacinghigherrisksthanthoseatanationallevel

ARTICLE 19’s records clearly showed a continuation of the trend of increasedvulnerability to violations for local journalists, compared to Dhaka-based, nationalmediajournalists.Localjournalistscanbetargetedmoreeasily,andtheytendtocoverall typesofnews,whichposesgreaterrisks to them,comparedtonational journalists,whocoverspecificareasofnews.

Non-StateActorscontinuetobethemainperpetratorsARTICLE19’srecordsindicatethat86.9%oftheviolationswerecommittedbynon-stateactors,ofwhom66.9%wereleadersandactivists of political parties (mostly of the ruling Awami League and its affiliatedbodies), 6.89% were criminal groups, and 2.07% were religious fundamentalists. An


alarming 11.03% were other non-state actors from various professions .Of all theviolations,10.34%werecommittedbystate-actors,ofwhom4.83%weremembersoflaw enforcement agencies, 2.76% were government officials and an alarming 2.76%wereelectedpublicofficialsinlocalgovernment.

Progressiveviewsfacechallenges

KillingsofanLGBTImagazineeditorandactivist,a theatreactivist,andavocalonlineactivistwhospokeoutaboutreligiousfundamentalismunderlinedthelackofprotectionforminority groups. The arrests of three officials of a publishinghouse, including theproprietor,forallegedlyhurtingIslamicreligioussentimentsbypublishingabooktitledIslamBitorko(“DebateonIslam”)wereanotherexampleforthelimitationsfreedomofexpressionfaces.

Journalistscontinuetobeunderthreatwhilereportingonsensitivepublicissues

ARTICLE 19 has found this year that journalists, including especially photojournalistsand camera operators, and online activists were particularly vulnerable to violationswhen reporting on high-profile politicians, local-level political activists, protests,sensitiveissuessuchaschildmarriage,andexposingcorruptionandillegalbusinesses.

Womenjournalistsforcedtoremainsilentongender-basedviolations

Ahighnumberofgender-basedviolationsinflicteduponwomenjournalistscontinuetobe unreported. Although only four gender-based violations have been recorded for2016, 1.3% of the total violations, these figures do not reflect the actual number ofoccurrencesof this typeofviolations, as inmost casesvictimsdonot report them forfearofrepercussions.

We make the following recommendations for protecting the safety of journalists andfreedomofexpressionforallcitizenstothefollowingactors:

TheGovernmentofBangladesh

• Vigorously condemnviolationswhen theydooccur, investigate thempromptlyandeffectivelyinordertodulysanctionthoseresponsible,providecompensationtothevictimswhereappropriate,andregularlyupdatethepublicontheproceedings;

• Take effective measures to address cases where state actors are involved inattacks,sendstrongsignalsthatitisnotappropriateandwillnotbetolerated;

• Ensure that law enforcement agencies, including police, uphold the right ofjournalists’andcitizens’freedomofexpression;

• Adopta“holistic”protectionapproachforaddressingissuesofprotection,safety,security, and impunity, including by establishing a specialisedmechanism to provideprotection and to investigate attacks on freedom of expression overseen by anindependentbody;


• Repealsection57oftheInformationCommunicationsandTechnologyAct(ICT)Act2006tobringthemintoaccordancewithinternationallawandstandards;andinthemeantimedroppendingcasesagainstindividualsforexercisingtheirrighttofreedomofexpressionundertheICTAct;

• Repeal criminaldefamationandreplace itwithanappropriatecivildefamationlaw;

• Ensure that theForeignDonations (VoluntaryActivities)Actdoesnot curb thelegitimate activities and expressions of civil society organisations and human rightsdefenders;

• Put inplace anti-SLAPP (strategic litigation against public policy) legislation toprevent casesbeingbrought simply toharass thosewhohaveexercised their right tofreedomofexpression;

• Provideappropriatetrainingoncrimesagainstfreedomofexpression,includinggender-specific crimes, to relevant law enforcement officials including the police andprosecutors;

• Strictly follow the due process of law in cases of closure of newspapers ortelevisionchannels,oranyothermediaevenifsuchclosureisnecessaryandjustifiedinlaw;

• Review other legal restrictions on the content of what may be published orbroadcasttobringtheminlinewithinternationalstandards;and

• ExtendtheremitoftheNHRCtocoverdiscriminationand/oranti-discriminationlaw covering private parties and enable theHumanRights Commission to investigateandtakeactionagainstorganisationsandinstitutionsfoundtobediscriminatingagainstwomenjournalists.

• OversightofbodiessuchastheNationalHumanRightsCommission

• ExtendtheremitoftheNHRCtocoverdiscriminationand/oranti-discriminationlaw covering private parties and enable theHumanRights Commission to investigateandtakeactionagainstorganisationsandinstitutionsfoundtobediscriminatingagainstwomenjournalists.

MediaHousesandOrganisations

• Adopt equality action policies and anti-harassment guidelines to addressdiscriminationandharassmentofwomen,includingintermsofpayandpromotion;

• Make a clear commitment to support their staff when they are the subject ofattacks and/or legal harassment, including by supporting them to take legal actionagainsttheperpetrators;


• End the climate of impunity, ensure that criminal cases are filed for each andevery attack on journalists affiliated with them, and monitor the progress ofinvestigationandtrial;

• Provide adequate safety, risk awareness, and self-protection training andguidancetojournalistsaffiliatedwiththem;

• Provide necessary security equipment to local correspondents, photographers,andreporterscoveringpoliticalagitationsandclashes;

• Ensure the formulation of guidance to address gender discrimination,gender-based censorship and sexual harassment as a serious barrier to women'sparticipation and representation in the media and the establishment of robust andeffectivemechanismstoaddresscomplaintsfromwomenjournalists;

• Promotepolicymeasuressuchasgenderpolicies,internalcodeofconduct,equalopportunity employment and anti-bullying and anti-harassment policies toward thedevelopmentofgoodpracticestofreethemediafromsuchnegativetrends;and

• WorkinpartnershipwithNGOstoraiseawarenessamongjournalistson issuesofdiscrimination,censorshipandharassmentonthebasisofgender.

CivilSocietyOrganisations

• MonitorandhighlighttheprogressofimplementationofBangladesh’sUniversalPeriodic Review (UPR) commitments regarding protection of journalists and onlineactivists,intheforthcomingUPRReviewforBangladesh.

Notes

1. The term ‘killing’ means causing the death of any journalist or online activist in a criminalmanner;

2. ‘Attempt toKill’meansattempting to cause thedeathof any journalistsoronlineactivist in acriminalmanner;

3. ‘Serious bodily injury’means a bodily injury that involves a substantial risk of death, extremephysicalpainrequiringan in-hospitalstayofseveraldays,disfigurement,or loss/impairmentofthefunctionofabodilymember/organ;

4. ‘Minorassault’indicatestheuseofcriminalforceresultinginphysicalpainthatdoesnotamounttoseriousbodilyinjury;

5. ‘Abduction’meanscompellingbyforceorinducingbydeceitfulmeanstoleaveaparticularplace;6. ‘Attempt to abduct’ means attempting to compel by force or inducing by deceitful means to

leaveaparticularplace;7. ‘Intimidation/threats’ means threatening any journalist or online activist to cause injury to

his/her person, properly or reputation with the intention of pushing the journalist or onlineactivistsothreatenedtoexerciseself-censorshipinexercisingtherighttofreedomofexpression;


8. ‘Arrest’and‘policeremand’inthisreportrefertotheincidentswherejournalists/onlineactivistswerearrestedbythepolice,andplacedinpolicecustodybyjudicialorder;

9. ‘Vexatiouscase’meansthefilingofacriminalcharge,regardlessofitsmerit,solelytoharassorsubdueanindividual.Thisdoesnotincludecriminaldefamationcases;

10. ‘Criminal defamation case’means the initiationof a criminal case against a journalist, allegingthatsomethingpublished/expressedhasdefamedthecomplainant;

11. In this report, ‘gender-basedattacks’meansphysicalorpsychologicalattacksagainstawomanjournalist/onlineactivistthatareinflictedbecauseofhergender;

12. ‘Destruction of equipment/property’ means causing the destruction/damage of (a) anyjournalistic equipment such as camera, microphone, motorbike etc; or (b) any propertybelongingtoajournalist,whensuchdestruction/damageiscarriedouttocensorthejournalist’srighttofreedomofexpression;

13. ‘General Diary’ is a legal term that connotes a formal written application addressed to theOfficer-in-Chargeofapolicestationatthelevelofaninspector.AGeneralDiarymayormaynotleadtoaformalinvestigation;

14. ‘PressClub’meansanassociationof journalists,oftencreated for the recreationalpurposesofjournalists.

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