Shafiur Rahman, a UK-based journalist and documentary maker, has claimed that he has been facing targeted harassment and intimidation over several years from various Bangladeshi security forces and intelligence agencies.
He believes these actions are a direct response to his critical journalism regarding Bangladesh's policies towards the Rohingya, according to a press release issued on Monday.
In a letter to international organizations involved in press freedom, Shafiur detailed the latest incident, which occurred in mid-May and involved the detention of over 30 Rohingya refugee attendees during an APNOR (Asia-Pacific Network of Refugees) meeting.
The detainees were interrogated about Shafiur, shown his photograph, and had their phones and laptops confiscated.
"This clearly demonstrates the authorities' attempts to intimidate and silence me indirectly," he said.
Shafiur's work, which includes opinion pieces published in the Dhaka Tribune, DVB English, The Diplomat, South East Asia Globe, and the Washington Post, has dealt with sensitive issues such as forced conscription, police brutality, and repatriation strategies, as well as developments in Bhasan Char and No Man’s Land.
"The harassment has serious implications for my personal safety and my ability to continue my work as a journalist," he said, highlighting the broader issue of press freedom in Bangladesh.
"The actions of the Bangladeshi authorities are an attempt to stifle critical reporting and suppress the truth about the situation in the Rohingya camps."
Furthermore, Shafiur expressed concern over the unnecessary intimidation of Rohingya youth, including the confiscation of their electronic devices. Many are now afraid to even repost his posts on X, formerly Twitter, or engage with him on social media.
This intimidation "disrupts their lives and hinders their ability to engage freely in digital spaces," Shafiur claimed.
He has reached out to international organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, the National Union of Journalists (UK) and Amnesty International, for urgent support and intervention to stop the alleged unnecessary harassment and advocate for his protection.