Amnesty International has called on Bangladeshi authorities to immediately drop sedition charges against woman human rights defender Shampa Goswami, Executive Director of the women-led organization Prerona.
Goswami faces sedition charges carrying a potential sentence of life imprisonment. Although she secured eight weeks of anticipatory bail last week—granting temporary protection from arrest—the charges, ongoing surveillance, and broader intimidation campaign against her remain active.
The reprisals against Goswami extend beyond the judicial proceedings. She has faced persistent surveillance, intimidation, and family harassment. On August 21, authorities intercepted her at the airport as she attempted to travel to Indonesia to attend an international conference. A travel ban remains enforced against her, restricting her foreign movement.
Read nextPrime Minister Tarique Rahman Holds Bilateral Meeting With Uzbek President Shavkat MirziyoyevThe administrative pressure has also impacted Prerona, an organization Goswami has headed since its establishment in 2006. The NGO focuses on advancing women's rights, education, health, and economic empowerment among marginalized communities. Despite submitting all necessary documentation, Prerona faces delays in securing administrative approvals for its social development projects, severely obstructing its operations.
Amnesty International urged the government of Bangladesh to immediately withdraw all sedition charges against Shampa Goswami, halt harassment targeting her and her family, lift the travel restriction, and ensure that Prerona can conduct its rights-based work without obstruction, reiterating that defending human rights is not a crime.
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Reported by Afroza Sarkar. Dhaka Offices • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
