Bangladesh Sentences Prominent Human Rights Activists to Jail Ahead of Elections

| 14 September 2023

In a move that has raised concerns among human rights advocates and the international community, a court in Bangladesh has sentenced two prominent human rights activists to two years in jail. Adilur Rahman Khan and Nasiruddin Elan, leaders of the Odhikar human rights organization, have been convicted in a trial that critics argue is part of a government crackdown ahead of the country's upcoming general elections.

Judge Zulfiker Hayat delivered the verdict on Thursday, stating that both Khan, aged 63, and Elan, aged 57, would serve a two-year prison sentence. These two activists have been at the forefront of Odhikar's efforts for decades, tirelessly working to document alleged extrajudicial killings, disappearances of opposition activists, and instances of police brutality. The charges against them are related to a fact-finding report compiled by Odhikar a decade ago on extrajudicial killings.

Prosecutor Nazrul Islam Shamim explained the basis of the conviction, stating, "They were sentenced to two years in jail for publishing and circulating false information, hurting religious sentiments, and undermining the image of the state."

Al Jazeera's correspondent in Dhaka, Tanvir Chowdhury, emphasized the chilling message sent by the court verdict, especially considering the upcoming general elections. "It comes ahead of general elections, and the international eye is on Bangladesh," he remarked.

With a general election scheduled before the end of January, several Western governments have expressed concerns about the political climate in Bangladesh. The ruling party's dominance in the legislature and its perceived control have raised alarms internationally. Nur Khan Liton, a former head of another leading human rights organization in the country, warned, "This verdict will send a chilling message to human rights defenders in the country and make their work enormously difficult."

The sentencing took place in Dhaka, with the presence of several foreign diplomats who attended the court proceedings. Odhikar, founded in 1994, has been diligently documenting human rights violations in Bangladesh over the years. The organization has maintained close ties with United Nations bodies and global human rights groups.

This recent development follows the United Nations' expression of alarm regarding Bangladesh's use of legal proceedings to intimidate and harass rights advocates and civil society leaders. UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani noted that both Khan and Elan "have faced harassment and intimidation." However, the Dhaka government responded strongly to the UN's comments, denouncing them as a "flagrant disrespect" of its justice system.

Last year, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government canceled Odhikar's operating license, accusing the organization of tarnishing Bangladesh's image. This move prompted widespread condemnation from rights advocates around the world. As Bangladesh gears up for its next general elections, the sentencing of these prominent human rights activists has once again ignited concerns about the state of democracy and freedom of expression in the nation.