STATEMENT: JMBF Expresses Grave Concerns Over the Misinformation Campaign Against the Positive Inclusion of Third-Gender Portrayal in Textbooks.

Paris, France; January 24, 2024: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) vehemently condemns the recent actions and statements made by Mr. Asif Mahatab Utsho, a former teacher at BRAC University. The incident, which involves false propaganda against the positive portrayal of third gender issues and spreading misinformation about homosexuality in Bangladesh and Europe, along with the subsequent tearing up of Class Seven textbook pages, is highly concerning and goes against the principles of responsible academic discourse.

প্রেস বিবৃতি: ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে স্নাতক শিক্ষাক্রমে ট্রান্সজেণ্ডার কোটা বাতিল এবং রংপুরে জাতীয় সংসদ সদস্য পদপার্থী ট্রান্সজেণ্ডার নারীর উপর হামলার ঘটনায় জেএমবিএফ গভীরভাবে উদ্বিগ্ন!

প্যারিস,ফ্রান্স;২৬ ডিসেম্বর ২০২৩: প্রতিক্রিয়াশীল মুসলিম ছাত্র ছাত্রীদের আন্দোলনের মূখে ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় কর্তৃপক্ষ কর্তৃক স্নাতক পর্যায়ের শিক্ষাক্রমে নির্ধারিত ট্রান্সজেন্ডার কোটা বাতিলের ঘোষণা এবং দ্বাদশ জাতীয় সংসদ নির্বাচনে রংপুর-৩ আসনে ট্রান্সজেন্ডার নারী স্বতন্ত্র প্রার্থী আনোয়ারা ইসলাম রানীর উপর আক্রমণের ঘটনায় ফ্রান্স ভিত্তিক মানবাধিকার প্রতিষ্ঠান জাস্টিসমেকার্স বাংলাদেশ ইন ফ্রান্স (জেএমবিএফ)গভীর উদ্বেগ ও প্রতিবাদ জানিয়েছে।

সমাজের পশ্চাদপদ অবহেলিত জনগোষ্ঠির অংশ হওয়া স্বত্তেও শুধুমাত্র যৌন সংখ্যালঘু সম্প্রদায়ের অন্তর্ভূক্ত হওয়ায় প্রতিক্রিয়াশীল মুসলিম ছাত্র ছাত্রীদের আন্দোলনের মূখে ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় কর্তৃপক্ষ কর্তৃক স্নাতক পর্যায়ের শিক্ষাক্রমে নির্ধারিত ট্রান্সজেন্ডার কোটা বাতিলের ঘোষণা এবং বর্তমান সরকারের সহযোগী ও জাতীয় সংসদের তথাকথিত বিরোধী দল জাতীয় পার্টির নেতা কর্মীদের দ্বারা দ্বাদশ জাতীয় সংসদ নির্বাচনে রংপুর-৩ আসনে স্বতন্ত্র প্রার্থী ট্রান্সজেন্ডার নারী আনোয়ারা ইসলাম রানীর উপর আক্রমণের ঘটনা বাংলাদেশের সর্বোচ্চ আইন সংবিধান ও জাতিসংঘ ঘোষিত সার্বজনীন মানবাধিকারের সুস্পষ্ট লংঘন বলে জেএমবিএফ মনে করে।

Press Release: JMBF Publishes State of LGBTQI+ Rights in Bangladesh 2022: Reveals Alarming Levels of Violence

Paris, France; December 18, 2023: In a groundbreaking initiative, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) has published the first-ever comprehensive State of LGBTQI+ Rights in Bangladesh for the year 2022, focusing on violence against LGBTQI+ people. The report, meticulously compiled by JusticeMakers Bangladesh (JMBD) and published by JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), sheds light on the harrowing struggles faced by the LGBTQI+ community in Bangladesh, offering a stark portrayal of pervasive discrimination and violence against sexual minority groups.

Advocate Shahanur Islam, Founder Secretary General of JMBD and Founder President of JMBF, expressed a profound mixture of concern and determination in the foreword, emphasizing the organization's solemn obligation to confront and rectify the injustices that plague the LGBTQI+ community in Bangladesh.

The report, emanating and published from Paris, France on December 18, 2023, through a press release underscores the gravity of the situation, being the first of its kind to meticulously document violations against the LGBTQI+ community in Bangladesh. Prior to this undertaking, no organization, whether within Bangladesh or on the global stage, has dared to provide such a comprehensive perspective on the struggles faced by the LGBTQI+ community in Bangladesh.

Advocate Shahanur Islam expresses a solemn commitment to addressing the injustices and emphasizes the collective responsibility of policymakers, legislators, civil society entities, and community leaders in effecting positive change.

প্রেস বিজ্ঞপ্তিঃ জেএমবিএফ এর বাংলাদেশে সমকামী ব্যক্তির অধিকার বিষয়ক বার্ষিক প্রতিবেদন ২০২২ প্রকাশ!

 প্যারিস, ফ্রান্স; ১৮ ডিসেম্বর, ২০২৩: ফ্রান্স ভিত্তিক মানবাধিকার প্রতিষ্ঠান জাস্টিসমেকার্স বাংলাদেশ ইন ফ্রান্স (জেএমবিএফ) প্রথমবারের মতো বাংলাদেশে সমকামী ব্যক্তির প্রতি সহিংসতা, বৈষম্য ও অধিকার বিষয়ক বিস্তারিত প্রদিবেদন “বাংলাদেশে সমকামী অধিকার ২০২২” প্রকাশ করেছে।

বাংলাদেশের বিভিন্ন সংবাদ মাধ্যমে প্রকাশিত সমকামী ব্যক্তির প্রতি সহিংসতা, বৈষম্য ও অধিকার সংক্রান্ত খবর জাস্টিসমেকার্স বাংলাদেশ (জেএমবিডি)কর্তৃক নিয়মিত সংকলন ও যাচায়পূর্বক প্রাপ্ত তথ্য জাস্টিসমেকার্স বাংলাদেশ ইন ফ্রান্স (জেএমবিএফ)১৮ ডিসেম্বর ২০২৩ এ প্রতিবেদন আকারে প্রকাশ করেছে।

বাংলাদেশে যৌন সংখ্যালঘু সমকামী গোষ্ঠীর বিরুদ্ধে চলমান ব্যাপক বৈষম্য ও সহিংসতার একটি স্পষ্ট চিত্র তুলে ধরাসহ প্রতিবেদনটিতে বাংলাদেশে সমকামী সম্প্রদায় প্রতিনিয়ত যে সকল কঠিন সংগ্রামের মাধ্যমে বেঁচে রয়েছে তাঁর উপর বিস্তারিত আলোকপাত করা করেছে।

জাস্টিসমেকার্স বাংলাদেশ (জেএমবিডি)এর প্রতিষ্ঠাতা মহাসচিব এবং জাস্টিসমেকার্স বাংলাদেশ ইন ফ্রান্স (জেএমবিএফ)এর প্রতিষ্ঠাতা সভাপতি অ্যাডভোকেট শাহানুর ইসলাম প্রতিবেদনটি সম্পাদনা করেছেন। তিনি প্রতিবেদনের মুখবন্ধে বাংলাদেশে যৌন সংখ্যালঘু সমকামী সম্প্রদায় যেসব সহিংসতা, অবিচার, বৈষম্য, নির্যাতনের শিকার হয় তা নিরসনে তাঁর প্রতিষ্ঠিত মানবাধিকার সংগঠন জেএমবিডি এবং জেএমবিএফ আন্তরিকভাবে কাজ করবে বলে সংকল্প ব্যক্ত করেছেন।

JusticeMakers Bangladesh Founder President Advocates for LGBTI Rights at HELP International Conference

In a groundbreaking event organized by the Council of Europe's Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (SOGI) unit, the Help international course launch and conference on LGBTI persons in the asylum procedure took place on December 4, 2023, at the Council of Europe premises in Strasbourg, France. Advocate Shahanur Islam, Founder President of JusticeMakers Bangladesh (JMBF), was in attendance, emphasizing the organization's commitment to promoting justice and human rights for all.

The conference featured esteemed speakers such as Thorsten Afflerbach, Head of Division, Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Programmes at the Council of Europe, Jeroen Schokkenbroek, Director of the Directorate of Anti-Discrimination, and Leyla Kayacik, Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe for Migration and Refugees. Other notable participants included Andreas Wissner, UNHCR Representative to the European Institutions in Strasbourg, and Eva Pastrana, Head of the HELP Programme at the Council of Europe.

Statement: JMBF expresses deep concern about the restriction of a transgender woman from participating in the Women's Career Carnival as a speaker at North South University.

Paris, France; November 26, 2023: The France-based human rights organization, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), has expressed profound concern and protest over the cancellation of the scheduled session featuring Bangladeshi transgender woman Ho Chi Minh Islam as a speaker at the Women's Career Carnival. The cancellation was reportedly influenced by pressure from conservative student groups at North South University. JMBF believes that the discriminatory treatment of Ho Chi Minh Islam, solely because she is a transgender woman, is a blatant violation of Bangladesh's Supreme Law Constitution and the universal human rights declared by the United Nations.

Based on various reliable sources, JMBF has learned that on November 24-25, 2023, two organizations, Heroes for All and ISOSHAL, organized the Women's Career Carnival at the North South University campus. The event aimed to empower women through networking, learning, and professional development. Transgender woman and rights activist Ho Chi Minh Islam was scheduled to participate as a speaker in a session on the afternoon of November 24. Her speech was intended to address the inclusion of marginalized communities in the workforce and the creation of an inclusive environment for their work.

Statement: JMBF Urges Justice for the Killing of Homosexual Butcher Khairul Islam in Dhaka

Paris, France; November 20, 2023: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses grave concern over the recent tragic and heinous murder of Khairul Islam, a gay butcher at Dakkhinkhan in Dhaka on the night of November 12, 2023.

The rights organization urges the government to give exemplary punishment to the alleged culprit through a prompt and fair trial. Additionally, they call for immediate measures to protect members of the LGBT community, preventing similar incidents in the future.

According to reports from various Bangladeshi news media, police recovered Butcher Khairul's bloodied body wrapped in a blanket from his shop in Dakshinkhan police station in Dhaka on the night of September 12, 2023. One wound was found on his nose, and three sharp weapon wounds were discovered on his neck. Initially, investigators had no leads, but later, individuals were arrested on suspicion. During intensive interrogation, Shahidul Islam, a butcher from a nearby shop, admitted that he worked at Judge Mia's meat shop in Adam Ali Market. Every day, after selling meat, he went home to Bereid. However, on the day of the incident, Khairul asked him to sleep in his shop, "Afsal Gost Bitan." Shahidul agreed, and around 11 o'clock, Khairul allegedly attempted a homosexual advance. Shahidul, angered by this, hit Khairul's face with a meat cutter chapati from Khairul's butcher's box, causing him to fall. Shahidul then struck Khairul's right-side neck more than three times to ensure his death. After confirming the victim's death, he wiped the body with a blanket, placed it in a box, covered Khairul with another blanket, and fled the scene.

Statement: JMBF Demands Prompt Justice for Murder of Self-Identified Transgender Drummer in Bangladesh

Paris, France; October 22, 2023: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a France-based human rights organization, is deeply concerned about the brutal murder of Babul Mridha (60), a drummer in a transgender Hijra group, in Naria upazila under the Shariyatpur district in Bangladesh.

JMBF demands that the perpetrators be brought to justice under the law by identifying and apprehending those responsible for this heinous act through a prompt, impartial, and transparent investigation and trial.

According to reports published in various newspapers in Bangladesh, Babul Mridha, a self-identified member of a transgender Hijra group, was brutally murdered on the night of September 4th due to her association with the transgender Hijra community.

JusticeMakers Bangladesh Activities Spotlighted in UK Home Office Report on LGBTQ+ Rights in Bangladesh

Bangladeshi prominent human rights lawyer Shahanur Islam's blog post on LGBTQI+ rights in Bangladesh has been highlighted in the "Country Policy and Information Note: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Bangladesh," published by the UK Home Office's Visa and Immigration department on September 5, 2023. Shahanur's article, titled "How can society promote equality and respect for LGBTQI+ rights in Bangladesh?" was one of the most highlighted pieces in the report.

Additionally, JusticeMakers Bangladesh, a prominent nonprofit organization, founded by Shahanur Islam, dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights and social justice in Bangladesh, has received international recognition for its tireless efforts. In a recent report published by the Visa and Immigration department under the UK Home Office, JusticeMakers Bangladesh's activities and a notable blog post of Shahanur Islam have been prominently featured. 

Statement : JMBF Expresses Deep Concern as Homosexuality is Presented in a Negative Light in Dainik Sangram

Paris, France: September 9, 2023 - The France-based human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) has expressed its profound dismay and concern over the negative portrayal of Bangladeshi homosexuals in the Daily Sangram newspaper, published in Dhaka.

The human rights organization calls upon the newspaper to issue an immediate apology for disseminating negative content regarding homosexuals and urges it to refrain from spreading further misinformation about homosexuality.

On June 24, 2023, the Bangla Jatiya newspaper, Dainik Sangram, published a report titled "The Increasing Prevalence of Homosexuality in Khulna," wherein it was stated that students in a majority of schools, colleges, and madrasahs were developing homosexual inclinations, leading to the creation of a distorted mindset. According to a leader of the Islamic youth movement, homosexuality is unequivocally abhorrent and the most reprehensible act in the world. The report also claimed that several nations had faced destruction due to homosexuality. Furthermore, the report asserted that homosexuality poses severe health risks, including the transmission of incurable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, as stated by a doctor from Khulna Medical College Hospital who characterized homosexuality as a manifestation of a complete mental disorder.

Statement: JMBF Strongly Condemns Brutal Murder of Gay Teacher Golam Kibria in Savar, Dhaka

Paris, France: August 20, 2023 – JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) unequivocally condemns the tragic and heinous murder of Golam Kibria, a gay school teacher and member of the sexual minority community, in Savar, Dhaka, allegedly by the individuals associated with extremist Islamic ideologies.

The organization expresses profound concern over this act of violence and demands an immediate and thorough investigation into the matter. JMBF insists on an impartial and expeditious inquiry, followed by a transparent trial, to ensure that the perpetrators responsible for this grave crime are brought to justice.

STATEMENT: JMBF Condemns Harassment and Violence against Chapainawabganj Hijra Community

[Paris, France: August 15, 2023] - JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a human rights organization based in France, expresses deep anguish and concern over the lack of criminal action against the accused individuals responsible for the harassment, demands for housing allowance, and attacks faced by the Hijra community in Chapainawabganj. Despite enduring these issues for two months, no substantial action has been taken against the perpetrators.

JMBF Demands Prompt Justice for Transgender Woman's Murder in Brahmanbaria

[Paris, France: August 13, 2023] JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a France base non-profit organization dedicated to defending human rights and advocating for justice, expresses profound concern and sorrow over the tragic killing of Sohel Rana, a transgender woman known as Dustu, in Brahmanbaria, Bangladesh. This distressing incident underscores the pressing need for immediate action to combat discrimination and violence against the LGBTQ+ community, particularly transgender individuals, within the nation.

Facebook Group Calls for Ban of Human Rights Activist and Lawyer Shahanur Islam, Alleging Promoting Homosexuality in Bangladesh

A Facebook user named "Mon Dey" has called for the ban of human rights activist and lawyer Shahanur Islam in Bangladesh, alleging that he is implementing a Western agenda to establish and legitimize the homosexual agenda in the country.

At the same time, he urges the necessary steps to ban Justice Makers Bangladesh, an organization founded by Shahanur Islam.

Shahanur Islam Presents Critical Analysis of Violence Against LGBT People at International Symposium in England

 Shahanur Islam, a prominent human rights lawyer from Bangladesh, delivered a compelling presentation at the "Safer-to-Be-Me" International Symposium held at Sunderland University in England. The symposium, jointly organized on June 22 by the international human rights organization Report Out International and the University of Sunderland, aimed to address the pressing issue of violence against LGBT people.

The event brought together a diverse group of experts and scholars to discuss the challenges faced by the LGBT community and explore potential solutions. Participants included Sarah Ellis, a senior lecturer at Sunderland University, Simon Fox, a public health specialist, Gabrielle Gucci and Damien Berger, gender and sexual minority specialists, Sarah Connolly, a social science lecturer at Sunderland University, Matthew Waits, a reader at the University of Glasgow, Dr. Felicity Daly, a visiting research fellow at the University of London, and Philip R. Crehan.

JusticeMakers Bangladesh Launches Urgent Call for Decriminalization of Homosexuality in Bangladesh

In a historic move, human rights group JusticeMakers Bangladesh has launched an urgent call for the decriminalization of homosexuality in the country. The organization has petitioned the Honourable President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh to repeal Section 377 of the Bangladesh Penal Code, which criminalizes consensual sexual acts between adults of the same sex.

JusticeMakers Bangladesh Calls for Fair Trial and Justice in the Murder of Bisexual Architect in Dhaka

Bangladeshi human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh is gravely concerned about the recent murder of bisexual architect Imtiaz Mohammad Bhuiyan, who was beaten to death in Dhaka in March 2023 after refusing to pay blackmailers.

JusticeMakers Bangladesh calls upon the government to ensure a fair and transparent trial for the accused, after a quick and transparent investigation, and to take steps to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.

According to news published on different media and information received from reliable sources, JusticeMakers Bangladesh learned that Imtiaz Mohammad Bhuiyan, a bisexual community architect, went missing after leaving his house on March 7.

JusticeMakers Bangladesh Expresses Concern Over Forced Video Confession of Gay Couple in Jessore Circulated on Facebook

The human rights organization, JusticeMakers Bangladesh, is deeply concerned about the forced confession video of a gay couple in Jessore that was circulated on Facebook on March 20, 2023, by a Facebook page called "Motion by Hannan."

JusticeMakers Bangladesh calls upon the concerned authorities to swiftly identify the accused persons in this incident, file criminal cases against them, and provide exemplary punishment in a fair trial.

The video shows a man forcing two gay men to confess against their will. Additionally, it shows a garment worker, a sexual minority gay named Hridoy from Comilla, who came to Jessore to marry a rickshaw puller named Jibon for love. The accused video holder defamed them by creating an intimidating atmosphere. Furthermore, the accused video holder threatened to inform the teenagers' parents about the incident via mobile phone. During this, the accused video holder molested a gay teenager by dressing him up, especially his hair, and putting lipstick on his lips. Moreover, the accused video holder threatened to take action against the gay teenage couple to stop the marriage and expel them from Jessore by calling the police administration and local chairman and members.

Human Rights Lawyer Shahanur Islam Joins Hands with ARDHIS for Bangladeshi LGBTQI Asylum Seekers in France

On March 22, 2023, Shahanur Islam, a human rights lawyer from Bangladesh and the founder of JusticeMakers Bangladesh, met with Mr. Eric Lejeune from the Association for the Recognition of the Rights of Homosexual and Trans People to Immigration and Residence (ARDHIS) at the SPACE office in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the present situation of LGBTQI+ rights in Bangladesh and seek cooperation to improve the rights of sexual minorities in the country.

During the meeting, Mr. Islam highlighted the numerous challenges faced by LGBTQI+ individuals in Bangladesh, including physical assault, murder, threats, rape, sexual abuse, bullying, discrimination, social stigma, and psychological abuse. He also noted that these incidents often go unreported due to stigma and intolerance from families, society, and the state. Additionally, existing discriminatory laws criminalize same-sex activities and can lead to life imprisonment.

Proposes Platform to Fight Discrimination Against LGBTQI+ Community in Bangladesh

On March 16, 2023, Shahanur Islam, a human rights defender and lawyer from Bangladesh and also founder of JusticeMakers Bangladesh, had an official bilateral meeting with Mr. Jean-Marc Berthon, the Ambassador for LGBT+ Rights of France, at his office in Paris.

During the meeting, Mr. Islam brought attention to the current human rights situation faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people in Bangladesh. He highlighted the challenges and difficulties they face in their daily lives, including discrimination, violence, and criminalization.