The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an NGO based in New York that promotes press freedom, has urged the authorities in Bangladesh to immediately cease harassing two Rohingya journalists over their reports on Rohingya refugees.
The two journalists in question are brothers and colleagues Sayful Arkane, a reporter, and Mohammad Aziz Arkane, a camera operator, CPJ mentioned in a statement issued Friday.
They cover Rohingya refugees for the YouTube channel of Rohingya news website The Arakan Times.
On Monday, Sayful and Aziz participated in a meeting between Rohingya refugees, UN officials and officials with the Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) in Nayapara refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, to discuss changes to food ration cards following protests over the issue, according to Aziz and a video of the meeting, which CPJ reviewed.
“Immediately after the meeting, an officer with the Office of the RRRC ordered police to arrest Aziz, the journalist told CPJ via phone. He said that a police officer grabbed him, put a hand over his mouth to prevent him from screaming and pulled him backwards, but that he was able to struggle free,” the statement reads.
Since then, he told CPJ that he and his brother have fled to separate hiding places to avoid police detection. He added that police have repeatedly called him since Monday and demanded his location.
At around 2pm on Monday, officers of the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) raided the brothers’ family home in Nayapara refugee camp, interrogated their parents as to their whereabouts, and said that they were searching for them due to their journalistic activities, according to Aziz.
Aziz told CPJ that the officers referenced videos he and his brother had produced for The Arakan Times, but did not name specific reports.
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Since Monday, officers of the same unit have visited the brothers’ home several times a day searching for the two journalists, CPJ said, quoting Aziz.
“When the officers visited on Friday, they demanded from the brothers’ parents a bribe of Tk1,00,000 in order not to file a criminal case against the brothers in retaliation for their journalistic activities, according to a person familiar with the case, who spoke to CPJ on the condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisal by authorities,” added the statement.
“Sayful Arkane and Mohammad Aziz Arkane’s reporting on the living conditions of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh is critical work that must be allowed to continue unhindered,” said Steven Butler, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator.
“Bangladesh authorities should immediately cease harassing the brothers and their family, and make clear that they will not be subject to arbitrary arrest,” he added.
Shaifur Rahman, a UK-based freelance journalist and documentary filmmaker, who is familiar with the journalists’ case, confirmed the entirety of Aziz’s account with CPJ via phone.
The Arakan Times covers human rights and the Rohingya community in Myanmar and across Asia, including news and videos about the impact of coronavirus, floods and fire incidents in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, according to CPJ.
Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Shah Rezwan Hayat did not respond to calls or text requesting comment, CPJ claims.
Meanwhile, Tariqul Islam Tariq, commander of the APBn in Cox’s Bazaar, told CPJ that his team in Nayapara refugee camp did not know Sayful and Aziz, but that he was investigating the claim of the bribe offer.
