Many people have left their homes and the country during the past 15 years after protesting the misdeeds of the then Awami League government. Relatives of those who were forced to leave the country could not escape the government's repression and torture. Protesters and their family members passed a miserable life with cases and attacks over a long period.
Some brave journalists and online activists were also forced to leave the country after being accused of the fascist government’s cases and various types of torture. But they have fought against the fascist regime for the people and freedom of democracy despite inhumane life abroad. They regularly presented the scenery of misrule of the immediate past government to the world. They told the stories of oppressed Bangladeshis in the global forum. They made an unforgettable contribution to toppling the fascist Sheikh Hasina government.
Today is the 84th day of the interim government. Unfortunately, the interim government hasn’t taken any initiative yet to withdraw the cases against the oppressed journalists and online activists and give them proper honour. As the cases against them have not been withdrawn, they are still not able to come to the country to get recognition.
Among the exiled journalists and activists, Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey, Pinaki Bhattacharya, Tasneem Khalil, Dr Kanak Sarwar, Zulkarnain Saer Khan Sami, Elias Hossain, Monir Haidar, Faham Abdus Salam, Shahed Alam, Abdur Rab Bhuttow, Saifur Sagar, Nazmus Sakib, Jawad Nirjhor, and Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb played big role in the anti-discrimination student movement.
Political analysts said countrymen hoped that the interim government would withdraw the cases filed against these protesters and their family members and they (Journalists and activists) would be given recognition as heroes. However, no such initiative has been taken so far. Among the protesters, journalist Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey has been appointed as ambassador of Bangladesh mission abroad with the rank of a senior secretary. However, the way for others to return to the country is not yet open due to the cases.
It is known that the Awami League government harassed the family members of the exiled critics. This issue has occurred repeatedly during the past 15 years. Multiple international human rights organisations expressed their worries about the alleged harassment of protesters’ families by the government.
Pinaki Bhattacharya is a Paris-based Bangladeshi blogger, social activist, and trained physician. He is very popular with the common people for his sharp and intelligent speeches. He has millions of followers. Pinaki published one video speech after another with a strong stand in favour of the libertarian people. He criticized the various misdeeds and anomalies of the government.
For this reason, his old mother and maternal uncle had to face police interrogation in Bangladesh. They have faced extreme harassment by the government. After the July revolution, Pinaki Bhattacharya has been advising the interim government in various ways.
Journalist Dr Kanak Sarwar’s YouTube talk shows exposed the face of the autocratic government. For this reason, his family suffered a lot of torture. But he didn't back down. He has repeatedly published the government's corruption and irregularities. In 2016, Kanak left the country for the United States after serving nine months in prison in 2015 in a sedition case. Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested his sister Nusrat Shahreen on October 4, 2021. Later, two cases were filed against him under the Narcotics Control Act and Digital Security Act with Uttara Paschim Police Station in the capital. Nusrat was remanded for five days in two cases. On March 30, 2022, she was freed on bail by the High Court and left the country after serving around six months in jail.
Renowned journalist Tasneem Khalil is the Editor-in-Chief of Sweden-based Netra News. He has published a series of investigative reports that have exposed the real faces of the government and law enforcement agencies over the past few years. Netra News was the first to bring up the issue of the infamous Aynaghar. It has drawn the world's attention by publishing investigative reports on the force disappearance and crossfire. Tasneem’s mother was repeatedly threatened in the country.
Journalist Monir Haidar was forced to leave the country under the pressure of an intelligence agency. Even staying in the United States, he has arranged many online seminars for the greater interest of the country. He was vocal against the Awami government. His house and car were attacked before he departed for the US.
Journalist Elias Hossain is very popular on social media. This investigative journalist was a critic of the previous government from the beginning. He revealed the corruption and irregularities of the government with courage. He also disclosed fearful information on social media. Elias revealed many secret documents, which put the government in trouble. Three cases were lodged against him while he was in the country. After leaving the country, 12 more cases were also registered against Elias. He was also sentenced to jail for six months in one case.
Zulkarnain Saer Khan Sami first came to the discussion through an investigative report by Al Jazeera. The report described how the General Aziz Ahmed family built an empire of corruption with the support of Sheikh Hasina. Later, journalist Sami made various investigative reports one after another.
Journalist Shahed Alam published various analytical videos from the USA. Journalist Jawad Nirjhor was also active on social media all the time. Nirjhor published multiple reports on the corruption of people of different classes and professions including journalists.
Nazmus Sakib of the YouTube channel Nagorik TV was also vocal against corruption. Journalist Abdur Rab Bhuttow played a crucial role in the government’s misdeeds and human rights violations through various social media content. His family also had to face harassment for this reason.
Scientist Faham Abdus Salam's video made a huge impact on the audience. In the final phase of the movement, his speech made a huge appeal among the mass people. Blogger Asad Noor's house in Barguna was searched and six members of his family including his parents were detained for two days.
Bangladesh Pratidin will gradually publish the stories of these intelligent soldiers.
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