243 eminent citizens demand proper probe, justice for suicide of media staff Swarnamoyee
Expressing deep concern over the recent suicide of a female graphics designer, who had lodged complaint of harassment against her superior at an online media outlet in Dhaka, 243 eminent citizens have issued a joint statement demanding a thorough investigation and justice.
"This tragedy has laid bare the grim reality of the working environment faced by women professionals in Bangladesh," the signatories said in a statement today (21 October).
The body of Swarnamoyee's Biswas, 28, a junior graphics designer at the recently launched Dhaka Stream, was recovered from her home in Dhanmondi on 19 October in what police suspect to be a case of suicide. Her death came months after she, along with 26 other colleagues, lodged a serious complaint against Altaf Shahnewaz, alleging "sexual harassment" and "inappropriate behaviour".
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Dhaka Stream swiftly issued a statement, condemning the social media narratives as "misleading".
Today, expressing outrage over the matter, the eminent citizen's statement said, "Despite written and evidence-based complaints from 26 media professionals, Dhaka Stream's Editor-in-Chief Golam Iftekhar Mahmud took no disciplinary action against the accused."
According to the statement, as per standard procedure, the accused should have been temporarily suspended.
"Instead, he was kept in his position. We believe the editor-publisher and the head of human resources of the outlet cannot evade their moral and administrative responsibility in this case," it added.
The statement further noted, "Eight specific allegations were made against Altaf Shahnewaz, all of which constitute serious misconduct and deeply degrading behavior toward women. Among the complainants were nine women journalists, each of whom suffered harassment because of his actions."
The signatories demanded that Altaf Shahnewaz and all responsible individuals be brought before the law following a proper investigation.
They also called for Dhaka Stream's management and negligence to be brought under scrutiny, and urged every organisation in the country to strictly enforce anti-sexual harassment policies to ensure women's safety, dignity, and justice in the workplace.
The statement was issued to the media by Jahangirnagar University Associate Professor Rezwana Karim Snigdha and poet-journalist Girish Gairik. The signatories include human rights activist ZI Khan Panna, economist Abdul Bayes, poet Nirmalendu Goon, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman, CPB General Secretary Abdullah Kafi Ratan, lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua, professors Zobaida Nasreen, Samina Luthfa, Kamrul Hasan Mamun, Ainun Nahar, poet Gultekin Khan, and academics Kasfia Nahrin, Mahmudul Suman, among others.
