Bangladesh authorities accused of harassing Hindu rights activist

The Ireland-based human rights group Front Line Defenders (FLD) has raised concerns regarding a “sustained campaign of stigmatisation, harassment and administrative obstruction” against Shampa Goswami, a Hindu woman human rights defender in Bangladesh.

Authorities in Bangladesh have imposed a travel ban on Goswami, which prevented her from attending an international conference in Indonesia in August. Additionally, the Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered a police investigation into allegations of corruption and misuse of funds against her. Goswami has filed a writ petition with the Bangladesh High Court to challenge the travel restrictions.

FLD stated that the attacks against Goswami are rooted in her gender and minority identity, occurring within a broader context of discrimination against Hindu, Ahmadiyya Muslim, and indigenous groups in Bangladesh. The organization has called on the Bangladeshi government to lift the travel ban and end the harassment of Goswami and her women-led organization, PRERONA.