JMBF Founder Shahanur Presents Paper on LGBTQI+ Challenges in Bangladesh in Vienna, Austria

Advocate Shahanur Islam, the founder of the Justice Makers Bangladesh Foundation (JMBF), presented a pivotal paper titled "Mapping LGBTQI+ Challenges in Bangladesh: A Media Analysis 2023" at the 6th World Conference on Social Sciences Studies (#3SCONF). The conference, held from June 20-22, 2024, in Vienna, Austria, brought together leading scholars, activists, and practitioners to discuss pressing social science issues.

Islam’s presentation highlighted the systematic monitoring and analysis of media portrayals and coverage of LGBTQI+ issues in Bangladesh throughout 2023. The paper underscored the significant challenges faced by the LGBTQI+ community in a socio-political landscape marked by conservative attitudes and legal constraints.

JMBF Founder Shahanur Islam Speaks at Geneva Event on Gender, Justice, and Refugee Law

Advocate Shahanur Islam, the founder and president of JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), delivered a compelling speech today at the 2024 NGO Consultations Side Event titled "Gender, Justice, and the Law: Legal and Practical Challenges for Refugees," held at the Geneva International Conference Centre on 10 June 2024. The event focused on the critical issue of access to legal services for women, girls, and LGBTQI+ refugees.

This side event was organized by PILnet, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), St. Andrews Refugee Service (StARS), and members of the legal community. It aimed to share knowledge and best practices on addressing the legal and practical challenges faced by refugees, particularly in the context of gender justice.

INDIA-BANGLADESH: JMBF Condemns Killing of Bangladeshi Citizen by Indian Border Security Force at Kumilla

Paris, France: June 11, 2024 - Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a France-based human rights organization, expresses profound concern and vehemently protests the killing of Bangladeshi citizen Anowar Hossain at the Jamtla Indian border area of Burichong upazila in Comilla on Sunday, June 9, 2024, by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF).

JMBF strongly condemns this egregious act of violence against an unarmed civilian along the India-Bangladesh border, which represents a blatant violation of human rights. JMBF demands immediate attention and action from the both India and Bangladesh government to provide exemplary punishment to the perpetrators involved in such gross human rights violations.

BANGLADESH: JMBF Deeply Concerned Over the Vandalism of Lalon Akhra in Kushtia!

Paris, France:The France-based human rights organization, Justicemakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), has expressed deep outrage and concern over the incident of the destruction of the Akhra of Baul Nishan Ali in Mirpur, Kushtia, on the night of June 7, 2024. The human rights organization has called for the immediate identification and exemplary punishment of the perpetrators.

URGENT APPEAL: Request for Prompt Action on Alleged Police Torture in Barisal

Mr. Asaduzzaman Khan, M.P.

Honorable Minister

Ministry of Home Affairs

Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka-1000

Email: minister@mha.gov.bd

Greetings from the human rights organization Justicemakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF)!

Justicemakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), established on the principles of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights (Bill of Rights), has been continuously dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights since its inception. It is the constitutional sacred duty of the state to uphold the fundamental rights, including human rights, of every citizen of Bangladesh.

URGENT APPEAL: Seeking Urgent Intervention Regarding Police Torture in Jhikargacha Upazila, Jessore

To,

Mr. Asaduzzaman Khan, M.P. 

Honorable Minister 

Ministry of Home Affairs 

Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh 

Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka-1000. 

Email: minister@mha.gov.bd 

Dear Sir,

Warm greetings from JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF)!

JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBAF), founded on the ideals of the United Nations Human Rights Charter (Bill of Rights), has been continuously engaged in the protection and promotion of human rights since its inception. It is the constitutional duty of the state to uphold the fundamental human rights of every citizen of Bangladesh.

BANGLADESH: JMBF Condemns the Alleged Death of Afroza Begum Due to Torture in Abhaynagar Police Station, Jashore

Paris, France – JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses profound concern and outrage over the tragic and brutal death of Afroza Begum, a 40-year-old housewife from Jessore, who allegedly died due to torture while in police custody at Abhaynagar Police Station, Jashore, on June 2, 2024.

According to reports published in various newspapers in Bangladesh, Afroza Begum was forcibly taken from her home by a police team led by Assistant Sub-Inspector Silon Ali on the night of June 1, 2023. Despite no incriminating evidence found during the initial search, she was subjected to severe physical abuse. ASI Silon Ali beat her until she fell to the ground and then tortured her further by tying her hair to a fan. The police also demanded a bribe of Tk 2 lakh for her release. When the family could not pay, she was allegedly tortured to death.The police claim that Afroza Begum was arrested with 30 pieces of yaba and that she died of natural causes. 

BANGLADESH-INDIA: JMBF Unveils Annual State of Indo-Bangla Border Violence 2023

Paris, France – June 01, 2024: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) today released the comprehensive report on the annual state of violence along the Indo-Bangladesh border for the year 2023.  The report documents 55 violent incidents that have resulted in 66 victims, underscoring the urgent need for effective interventions to address this persistent issue from January to December 2023. The incidents have led to fatalities, injuries, and detainments, affecting numerous individuals and communities across the border.

To read the full report in PDF, please visit: Annual State of Indo-Bangla Border Violence 2023

The report reveals a troubling pattern of violence, with the majority of incidents being perpetrated against males, resulting in 64 male victims from 53 incidents, while females were targeted in two incidents, leading to two female victims. Despite the lower number of incidents involving females, the violence they experienced was equally severe. 

BANGLADESH: JMBF Condemns the Death of Suraiya Khatun in RAB Custody Allegedly Due to Torture and Demands Justice and Accountability

Paris, France; May 26, 2024: France-based human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) is deeply concerned and outraged over the tragic death of Suraiya Khatun, a 45-year-old woman in the custody of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) allegedly due to torture on Friday, May 17, 2024, in Bhairab, Kishoreganj.

JMBF calls for exemplary punishment for those responsible, in a fair trial according to the Torture and Death in Custody (Prevention) Act 2013, by forming a judicial committee to investigate the incident and identify the perpetrators free from any interference by RAB or other law enforcement agencies involved in the incident.

BANGLADESH: JMBF and SIL Express Deep Concern Over Recommendation to Remove 'Sharifa's Tale' from Seventh-Grade Textbook

Paris, France: France-based human rights organizations JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) and Solidarity International LGBTQI+ (SIL) express deep concern over the recent recommendation by the expert committee formed by the Ministry of Education of Bangladesh to remove "Sharifa's Tale" from the seventh-grade social science textbook.

JMBF and SIL strongly urge the Ministry of Education to reject this recommendation from the biased committee. Instead, they call for the formation of a new committee led by a Justice of the High Court Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court. This new committee should include education specialists, social scientists, and members of civil society to thoroughly investigate the content in question.

JMBF Attends International Conference on Combatting LGBTphobia in Paris

Paris, May 18, 2024- On May 17, 2024, the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs hosted a significant conference dedicated to advancing the rights and protections for LGBT+ individuals globally. The International Day Against LGBTphobia conference, held at the Quai d’Orsay, attracted a diverse array of human rights advocates and legal experts who addressed the urgent need for the universal decriminalization of homosexuality.

Among the notable attendees was Advocate Shahanur Islam, Founder and President of JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF). Islam, a prominent figure in the fight for LGBT+ rights in Bangladesh, contributed significantly to the discussions at the conference.

PRESS RELEASE: JMBF Releases Groundbreaking Annual State of LGBTQI+ Rights in Bangladesh 2023

Paris, France - May 17, 2024 - JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) proudly announces the release of the "Annual Report on the State of LGBTQI+ Rights in Bangladesh 2023," coinciding with the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. This day serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing global struggle for LGBTQI+ rights and underscores the importance of collective action in combating discrimination and prejudice.

This report, following the groundbreaking inaugural edition in 2022, represents a comprehensive analysis of the challenges and advancements in LGBTQI+ rights in Bangladesh. It acknowledges that the documented incidents may not fully represent the actual number and types of abuses against LGBT individuals in Bangladesh, as many incidents go unreported due to social stigma and unacceptability.

Compiled by JMBF through rigorous monitoring of news media and analysis, the report covers developments in LGBTQI+ rights from January to December 2023. It provides a detailed examination of the legal, social, and cultural landscape impacting LGBTQI+ individuals in Bangladesh, highlighting both progress and persistent challenges.

JMBF Granted Membership to IGLYO

Paris, France; May 14, 2024: In a remarkable stride towards fostering inclusivity and support for LGBTQI communities, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) has achieved a significant milestone by securing membership in the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI) Youth & Student Organisation (IGLYO) headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.

The official announcement, made on May 14, 2024, following approval from the esteemed IGLYO board, marks a pivotal moment for JMBF, reaffirming their steadfast commitment to championing the rights and welfare of LGBTQI individuals.

JMBF, a prominent entity dedicated to social justice and equality, operates within France with a primary focus on empowering Bangladeshi communities. Through alignment with IGLYO, they aim to broaden their outreach and collaborate on a global scale to address the challenges facing LGBTQI youth and students worldwide.

JMBF's Urgent Demand for Justice in the Border Killings by Indian BSF and Immediate Halt to Violence

Paris, France; May 09, 2024: The France-based rights organization, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), expresses profound anguish and outrage in the strongest condemnation of the recent unjust and egregious killings of two Bangladeshi nationals by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) at the Tetulia border in Panchagarh district on May 8, 2023, early morning. The brutal and unwarranted killing of Abdul Jalil and Yasin Ali, unarmed youths whose lives were ruthlessly snatched away, is an affront to humanity and a blatant violation of human rights.

According to reports published in different news media in Bangladesh, JMBF learned that on May 08, 2024, early morning between 12:30 am to 1:00 am, the Indian Border Security Force killed two Bangladeshi youths, Abdul Jalil, 24, of the Magura area, and Yasin Ali, 23, of the Tiranihat Brammatal area, along the Tetulia border in Panchagarh district using only two bullets. One of the Bangladeshis sustained a bullet to his head, while injuries to another could not be seen due to profound bleeding on the body; The Indian forces took away their bodies after the killings.

Bangladesh: JMBF and SIL Express Strong Concern Over the Recent Arrest of Two Lesbian Individuals in Tangail

Paris, France; April 30, 2024: France-based rights organizations JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) and Solidarity International LGBTQI (SIL) jointly express profound concern and outrage over the recent arrest of two lesbian individuals from Tangail, Bangladesh, on April 21, 2024, due to their sexual orientation and same-sex relationship.

JMBF and SIL believe the arrest of the two lesbian women, who wished to marry, is a grave violation of their fundamental human rights and dignity as declared in the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh and the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

Bangladesh: JMBF Strongly Protests the Tragic Killing of Bangladeshi Youth by BSF in Patgram Upazila, Lalmonirhat

Paris, France; May 2, 2024: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) vehemently condemns the heinous act of the tragic killing of Abul Kalam, a 22-year-old Bangladeshi youth, by India's Border Security Force (BSF) near the Patgram border in Lalmonirhat on the early morning of April 26, 2024.

JMBF asserts that the killing of Abul Kalam by the BSF is a clear violation of human rights and an egregious display of excessive use of force. His untimely demise due to excessive force serves as a poignant reminder of the grave dangers faced by innocent civilians residing in border areas.

Can we evade accountability for the death of transgender model Radia Teherin Utsha?

On Monday, April 22, 2024, Radia Teherin Utsha, a 19-year-old transgender model, tragically ended her life by jumping from the sixth-floor roof of Byatikram Mahila Hostel in Mirpur, Dhaka. Radia, a student in the honors first year at Mirpur Bangla College, took this drastic step.

The recent suicides of transgender individuals in Bangladesh, including Radia Tehrin Uthso who tragically took her own life, serve as stark reminders of the urgent need for societal change. These heartbreaking losses highlight the profound challenges faced by transgender people in our country, challenges that demand immediate attention and decisive action from all sectors of society.

The young woman was seriously injured after leaping from the female hostel located at Mahua Manzil, Mirpur-10. Despite efforts to save her, Radia succumbed to her injuries at the emergency department of Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital. It has been revealed that Radia had been concealing her transgender identity during her six-month stay at the hostel.