TIB condemns Hadi murder, warns of growing threats to media freedom, democracy

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has condemned the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, a leading figure of the July uprising, and denounced destructive attacks on media freedom and dissent as direct assaults on democracy and citizen security.

In a press statement today (19 December), TIB expressed deep concern over what it described as the "government's failure" to arrest those involved in Hadi's murder and bring them to justice.

TIB Executive Director, Iftekharuzzaman, said, "The government's failure to arrest all those involved in the targeted shooting, and allegations of facilitating their escape to a neighbouring country, reflect shortsightedness and incompetence in addressing the instability and insecurity arising from public outrage. The interim government cannot evade responsibility for this failure." 

"On the other hand, the aggressive and vengeful behaviour of a section of the forces claiming victory after the fall of authoritarian rule is giving rise to new forms of repression within the state and society. The direct victims of this have been the free media, dissent, and freedom of expression," he added. 

Iftekharuzzaman said the government has failed to take any effective stance to confront and prevent this situation; rather, by previously adopting submissive positions in similar crises, "the state itself has expanded the space for intolerance, violence, and instability."

The executive director further said, "As part of this continuum, vandalism and arson attacks on leading media houses such as Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, the attack on New Age editor Nurul Kabir, the attack on cultural organisation Chhayanaut, and the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das – followed by the burning of his body on allegations of hurting so-called religious sentiments – have taken place. There is no scope to view these as isolated incidents; rather, these are glaring examples of the systematic suppression of free thought, dissent, and independent expression." 

In a Bangladesh aspiring toward democracy, such destructive attacks are not only unacceptable but will stand as an embarrassing testament to the "state's failure" to fulfil its most fundamental responsibilities, he said.

Iftekharuzzaman said they are observing with deep concern that the way humanitarian values and fundamental human rights were trampled during the "authoritarian rule is now returning" in a new form.

The statement added that many who were victims of rights violations over the past 16 years and now claim to be victors of the July movement are themselves today "violating the rights" of the free media and dissent. 

Observing the sequence of events, it is by no means unreasonable to conclude that Bangladesh's independence, and the spirit and values of the July Uprising, are under severe threat, read the statement.

TIB also demanded swift punishment of Hadi's killers, accountability of authorities for failing to act, and immediate measures to protect media freedom and citizens' rights.

The organisation warned that without effective action, Bangladesh's democratic future, social stability, and the core ideals of the July uprising will plunge into a deeper crisis