Bangladesh Shuts Down Main Opposition’s Newspaper

20-02-2023

Héloïse Regnault de Montgon

East & South Asia Human Rights Researcher 

Global Human Rights Defence

On February 19, 2023, the government of Bangladesh enforced a suspension order against the Dainik Dinkal, the only newspaper of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) (Al Jazeera, 2023). The BNP is the nation’s main opposition party, and has been severely repressed since Prime Minister’s Sheikh Hasina ascension to power in 2009 (Al Jazeera, 2023).

Human rights defenders, UN experts and foreign governments have repeatedly expressed concerns at allegations of human rights abuse and political repression in Bangladesh. A top US diplomat on official visit in Dhaka recently expressed concern at the “erosion of democracy” in the South Asian nation (France 24, 2023). The news stories covered by the journal included the arrests of BNP members and opposition members (Al Jazeera, 2023).

While the shutdown of the newspaper was ordered on December 26 by the authorities, it continued its activities after filing an appeal at the Press Council. This appeal was rejected on February 19, which forced the Dainik Dinkal to stop publishing. The newspaper is reported to employ “hundreds of journalists and press workers” (Al Jazeera, 2023).

According to Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, managing editor of the newspaper, “This shutdown is all part of the government crackdown on dissenting voices and freedom of speech” (Al Jazeera, 2023). The printing permit of the newspaper was revoked after the government accused it of violating publication laws, and accused the publisher, Tarique Rahman, of being unwilling to hand over his position despite being a “convicted criminal”. Rahma, who is also the chief of BNP, resigned and appointed a new publisher to no avail (Al Jazeera, 2023).

According to Al Jazeera, “The 2022 World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders ranked Bangladesh at 162, worse than Russia (155) and Afghanistan (156)”. In January, Prime Minister Hasina’s government shutted down 191 websites accused of propagating “anti-state news” (Al Jazeera, 2023).

This shutdown is in violation of the right to freedom of expression as stated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Bangladesh ratified in 2000 (United Nations, n. d.). Article 19(2) of the ICCPR states: “Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice” (UN Human Rights, 1966).  Since the journal was freely diffusing information in print to Bangladeshi citizens about the government’s crackdown on the opposition (among other things), its shutdown constitutes a violation of Article 19 of the ICCPR. Having ratified the ICCPR, Bangladesh is obligated to guarantee this right to its citizens.

Dainik Dinkal has now halted printing, and Hasina’s government has not responded to the journal’s objection (Al Jazeera, 2023). It seems plausible that the crackdown on the opposition will continue in Bangladesh.

Sources:

Al Jazeera. (2023, February 20). Bangladesh shuts down main opposition party’s newspaper. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/20/bangladesh-shuts-down-main-opposition-partys-newspaper. 

France 24. (2023, February 16). US says Bangladesh sanctions to remain until police reform. AFP. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230216-us-says-bangladesh-sanctions-to-remain-until-police-reform. 

Moen, A. J. (2017). Flag of Bangladesh_1600-960[Photograph]. Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/YmuNVc. 

United Nations. (n.d) Ratification Status for the ICCPR. UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies. https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/TreatyBodyExternal/Treaty.aspx.

United Nations. (1966, December 16). International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. UN Human Rights. https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child.