Press Release : Dhaka, April 26, 2022 :: ARTICLE 19, a UK-based international human rights organization, has strongly condemned the illegal detention, harassment and taking bond by the Police from Syeda Ratna and her teenage son, the activists demanding protection of the Tetultala playground in Kalabagan, Dhaka. ARTICLE 19 expressed solidarity with the media, civil society organizations, environmental organizations and prominent people for their supporting role in protesting the illegal detention and harassment of Syeda Ratna and her son and raised voice echoing theirs.

Faruq Faisel, the Regional Director of ARTICLE 19 South Asia said, “The illegal detention and harassment of Syeda Ratna and her teenage son by the police reflects a disturbing picture of lack of freedom of expression and shrinking civic space in Bangladesh”.

He added, “In this incident, we could see again the tendency of the Police to arrest illegally. In recent times, we observe a growing tendency in Bangladesh Police to behave in a more authoritarian way by making illegal detentions, abusing forces, suing, intimidating, harassing and dissenting. Unlawful detention, taking bond and harassment are direct violation of fundamental human rights and Bangladesh government has the obligation to defend the citizen’s right to express opinion and right to protest under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).”

Syeda Ratna is an activist of the Tetultala playground protection movement in Kalabagan, Dhaka. She has been campaigning with many others against the attempt to occupy the Tetultala ground to create a permanent infrastructure for the Police. On April 24, 2022, she and her teenage son were illegally detained and harassed at the Kalabagan Police Station for making a Facebook live about the work of constructing walls around the field. Earlier, on January 31, 2022, the children of the area went to play in the field at the Tetultala ground in Kalabagan. The members of the Kalabagan police station punished the playing children with an order of getting up and sitting down holding their ears. In addition to that, the children were threatened not to go to the field anymore by video recording of the torture on their mobile phones. The children were scared.

ARTICLE 19 demands immediate and appropriate investigation and punishment against the police officers and employees involved in the incident and also calls the police to be more sensitive in the exercise of protecting freedom of expression, right to protest and democratic rights of citizens.

ARTICLE 19 is an international human rights organization based in the United Kingdom, working in many countries around the world. Founded in 1987, the organization works to ensure freedom of expression and free thought. The rights body started its operations in South Asia in 2008.