The Arakan Times :
The Committee to Protect Journalists on Friday said that the authorities of Bangladesh should immediately cease harassing brothers and colleagues Sayful Arkane, a reporter, and Mohammad Aziz Arkane, a camera operator, for the YouTube channel of Rohingya news website The Arakan Times.
On August 2, 2021, the brothers, who cover Rohingya refugee issues for the channel, participated in a meeting between Rohingya refugees, UN officials, and officials with the office of Bangladesh’s Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner in Nayapara refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, to discuss changes to food ration cards following protests over the issue, according to Mohammad Aziz Arkane and video of the meeting, which CPJ reviewed.
Immediately following the meeting, an officer with the office of Bangladesh’s Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner ordered the police to arrest Mohammad Aziz Arkane, the journalist told CPJ over phone.
Aziz said that a police officer grabbed him, put a hand over his mouth to prevent him from screaming, and pulled him backwards. But he was able to struggle free.
Since then, he said that he and his brother had fled to separate hiding places to avoid police detection. He told CPJ that the police had repeatedly called him since August 2 and demanded his location.
At about 2:00pm on August 2, 2021, officers with the Armed Police Battalion raided the brothers’ family home in Nayapara refugee camp, interrogated their parents for
knowing their whereabouts, and said that they were searching for them due to their journalistic activities, according to Mohammad Aziz Arkane, said CPJ.
He told CPJ that officers referenced videos the brothers produce for The Arakan Times, though did not name specific reports.
Since August 2, 2021, officers with the same unit have visited the brothers’ home multiple times a day searching for the two journalists, Mohammad Aziz Arkane said. When they visited today[Thursday], they demanded from the brothers’ parents a bribe of Tk 100,000, worth US $1,179, 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, reports CPJ.
‘Sayful Arkane and Mohammad Aziz Arkane’s reporting on the living conditions of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh is a critical work that must be allowed to continue unhindered,’ said Steven Butler, CPJ’s Asia programme coordinator, adding that ‘Bangladesh authorities should immediately cease harassing the brothers and their family, and make clear that they will not be subject to arbitrary arrest.’
Shaifur Rahman, a UK-based freelance journalist and documentary filmmaker, who is familiar with the journalists’ case, confirmed the entirety of Mohammad Aziz Arkane’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’s review.
Shah Rezwan Hayat, Bangladesh’s Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, did not respond to CPJ’s calls or text requesting comment via messaging app.
Tariqul Islam Tariq, commander of the Armed Police Battalion in Cox’s Bazaar, told CPJ via messaging app that his team in Nayapara refugee camp did not know Sayful Arkane and Mohammad Aziz Arkane, but that he was investigating the claim of the bribe offer.
