IFJ Calls for Release of Bangladeshi Journalist Detained Under Anti-Terrorism Act

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has urged Bangladeshi authorities to immediately release journalist Monjurul Alam Panna, who was detained under the country’s Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) alongside 15 others in Dhaka on August 28. The IFJ, along with its affiliate the Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum (BMSF), called for a transparent investigation and warned against the unlawful targeting of media professionals.

Panna was arrested while attending a roundtable discussion titled “Our Great Liberation War and the Constitution of Bangladesh” at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity. The event, reportedly organized by Mancha 71, was disrupted by protesters who had earlier threatened to stop it on social media. Police later detained Panna, along with former Awami League minister Abdul Latif Siddique and Dhaka University law professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman.

At a hearing the following day, Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana ordered all 16 detainees into custody. Panna appeared in court wearing a helmet and a bulletproof vest before being transferred to Keraniganj Central Jail. The case is being investigated by Sub-Inspector Toufiq Hasan, who sought continued detention during the inquiry.

The arrests come amid heightened political tensions in Bangladesh. Since May 2025, the Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus-led interim government has banned all Awami League activities pending trials over protest-related deaths under the International Crimes Tribunals Act. Critics argue that the sweeping restrictions have further eroded civil liberties and press freedom.

The IFJ expressed concern about the misuse of Bangladesh’s restrictive laws against journalists. In a statement, the federation said:

“The interim government and the legislature must ensure that any investigations are conducted swiftly and transparently and to ensure that journalists are not unduly targeted or held in custody.”

The BMSF echoed this demand, calling Panna’s detention unjust and pressing for his immediate release.

The South Asia Press Freedom Report 2024-25 highlighted that trust in Bangladesh’s media remains fragile, following years of repression under the Sheikh Hasina administration, where journalists were frequently targeted under the ATA, Digital Security Act, and ICT Act. Rights advocates warn that recent arrests signal a worrying continuation of such practices under the interim government.