An international human rights organisation has raised concerns over what it describes as a sustained campaign of harassment against Shampa Goswami, a Bangladeshi Hindu woman human rights defender, alleging that the actions against her are linked to her gender and minority identity.
Ireland-based Front Line Defenders (FLD) expressed grave concern over a travel ban imposed on Goswami by Bangladeshi authorities and a police investigation ordered by the country’s Ministry of Home Affairs. The organisation said the measures were part of a broader campaign of stigmatisation, harassment and administrative obstruction targeting Goswami, her family and PRERONA, the women-led organisation she heads in Satkhira district.
According to FLD, Goswami was stopped at an airport on August 21 and prevented from travelling to Bali, Indonesia, where she was scheduled to attend an international conference.
On September 20, she filed a writ petition before Bangladesh’s High Court challenging the travel restriction. She is awaiting a hearing date, the rights group said.
FLD further stated that Goswami received a letter on September 28 informing her that the Ministry of Home Affairs had directed the Inspector General of Police to investigate allegations of corruption and misuse of funds against her.
The organisation said the alleged harassment must be viewed in the wider context of discrimination and violence affecting minority communities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, Ahmadiyya Muslims and indigenous groups. It also highlighted what it described as the gendered nature of the attacks against Goswami.
FLD called on the Bangladeshi government to immediately lift the travel ban and end all forms of harassment and intimidation targeting Goswami, her family and PRERONA.
It also urged authorities to conduct a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation into reported threats, extortion attempts and online harassment directed at Goswami, her daughters and PRERONA staff, and to ensure that those responsible are held accountable in accordance with international standards.
The rights group further called on the authorities to protect the ability of all human rights defenders in Bangladesh, particularly women and members of minority communities, to carry out peaceful and legitimate work without fear of reprisals or arbitrary judicial and administrative restrictions.
Meta Description: Front Line Defenders urges Bangladesh to lift a travel ban on Hindu rights activist Shampa Goswami and end alleged harassment.
Meta Tags: Shampa Goswami, Bangladesh, Front Line Defenders, Hindu rights activist, human rights defenders, PRERONA, travel ban, minority rights, women’s rights
Unified Social Media Hashtags: #ShampaGoswami #Bangladesh #HumanRights #MinorityRights #WomensRights #FrontLineDefenders #PRERONA
Social Media Caption: Front Line Defenders has urged Bangladesh to lift the travel ban on Hindu women’s rights activist Shampa Goswami, end alleged harassment against her and her organisation PRERONA, and investigate reported threats and extortion attempts.
FOLLOW NOW
