243 eminent citizens demand proper investigation, justice for journalist Swarnamoyee’s suicide

A number of 243 prominent citizens from various sectors of the country have demanded a proper investigation into the suicide of Swarnamoyee Biswas (28), a graphic designer at the online news portal Dhaka Stream, and called for the immediate legal action against the perpetrators, says a press release.

According to the release, they also urged the strict implementation of workplace sexual harassment prevention policies in every organisation to ensure the safety, dignity, and fairness for women at work.

Dr Rezwana Karim Snigdha, Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Jahangirnagar University, and poet and journalist Girish Goiric sent the statement to the media on Tuesday (21 October), demanding a proper investigation and justice for Swarnamoyee Biswas. The statement was endorsed by 243 prominent citizens from various professions, including poets, writers, teachers, journalists, lawyers, political activists, and cultural personalities.

The statement said: “We have learned from various media reports that Swarnamoyee Biswas, a graphic designer at the online news portal Dhaka Stream, has taken her own life. We are deeply shocked, pained, and outraged by the untimely, unwanted, and tragic death of a promising young journalist. We demand a proper investigation into this incident to bring the perpetrators under the law for justice.”

It further stated: “According to multiple media reports, Swarnamoyee Biswas and 26 of her colleagues had filed a written complaint with the Human Resources department of Dhaka Stream against the news portal’s Bangla Content Editor Altaf Shahnewaz, accusing him of sexual harassment, indecent behaviour, and mental abuse. They raised eight specific allegations against Altaf Shahnewaz, which clearly constitute serious wrongdoing and extremely disrespectful behaviour towards women. Nine of the complainants were female journalists, all of whom stated they suffered harassment due to the accused’s conduct.”

“Despite written and evidence-backed complaints from 26 employees, Dhaka Stream’s Chief Editor and Publisher Golam Iftikhar Mahmud took no punitive action against the accused. As per regulations, the accused should have been temporarily suspended in such cases, but the organisation did not do so; instead, he was allowed to remain in his position. The signatories believe that in this matter, the editor-publisher and head of HR of the media house cannot evade their moral and administrative responsibility,” the statement added.

The statement also noted: “As per the directives of the High Court, every organisation is obliged to form a committee to prevent workplace sexual harassment and follow a specified procedure to investigate complaints. This directive was not followed in this case, which is a clear violation of law and human rights. According to colleagues, Swarnamoyee Biswas became mentally distressed, depressed, and despondent as she did not receive justice.”

“This incident is not just about a single organisation; it reflects the dire reality of the work environment for women employees in Bangladesh. Crimes like sexual harassment and mental abuse continue to occur in workplaces, but in most cases, justice is not properly served. As a result, countless women silently suffer mental anguish, some are forced to leave their jobs, and others, unable to bear humiliation and despair, resort to suicide,” said the statement.

The statement continued: “We believe that the death of Swarnamoyee Biswas raises serious questions for the journalistic community, creative individuals, and the conscience of citizens. We express our deep concern and outrage over this incident. Her death must not be forgotten as just another ‘news item’. We want it to become a starting point for change and the awakening of justice.”

In conclusion, the statement placed three demands:

1. The accused sexual offender Altaf Shahnewaz and others involved must be brought to justice through proper investigation without delay.

2. The role and negligence of Dhaka Stream authorities must be investigated.

3. The sexual harassment prevention policy must be strictly implemented in every institution to ensure women’s safety, respect and fairness at work.

Those who endorsed the statement are:

1. Poet Nirmalendu Goon, 2. Freedom Fighter and Lawyer ZI Khan Panna, 3. Dhaka University (DU) Professor Dr Zobaida Nasreen, 4. TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, 5. Educationist and Economist Abdul Bayes, 6. DU Professor Samina Luthfa, 7. Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, 8. Poet Gultekin Khan, 9. DU Professor and Researcher Dr Kamrul Hasan Mamun, 10. Freedom Fighter and Fiction Writer Ishak Khan, 11. DU Professor Dr Kaberi Gayen, 12. Actor and Theatre Director Kochi Khandakar, 13. Fiction Writer Rafiqul Rashid, 14. Fiction Writer Nasrin Jahan, 15. Researcher Dr Sorkar Abdul Mannan, 16. Translator and Essayist Alam Khorshed, 17. Poet and Fiction Writer Jhorna Rahman, 18. Poet and Translator Jewel Majhar, 19. Poet Dukhu Bangal, 20. Researcher Sadat Ullah Khan, 21. Researcher Khasru Parvez, 22. Lawyer and Journalist Manzur Al Matin, 23. Poet Mahmud Kamal, 24. Columnist Ziauddin Ahmed, 25. Researcher Sujat Monsur, 26. Fiction Writer Parvez Hossain, 27. General Secretary of Communist Party of Bangladesh Abdullah Qafi Ratan, 28. Former Principal Kazi Abdur Rahman, 29. California University Researcher and Writer Dr Nadim Mahmud, 30. JU Professor Dr Masood Imran Mannu, 31. DU Professor Dr Rafiq Shahriar, 32. DU Professor Dr Md Abdur Rahim, 33. Rajshahi University (RU) Professor Habib Zakaria Ullas, 34. JU Professor Mahmudul Sumon, 35. JU Professor Dr Kasfia Nahrin, 36. JU Professor Ainun Nahar, 37. JU Professor Mahmuda Akand, 38. DU Professor Dr Aksadul Alam, 39. DU Professor Dr Mohammad Humayun Kabir, 40. DU Associate Professor Dr Nilima Akhter, 41. Poet and JU Professor Abu Dayen, 42. Fiction Writer and Translator Aditi Falguni, 43. Poet and Fiction Writer Abu Zafar Khan, 44. Poet and Professor Kamrul Hasan, 45. Professor Kazi Farid, 46. Fiction Writer Salma Bani, 47. DU Associate Professor Dr Abdur Razzak Khan, 48. JU Associate Professor Dr Rezwana Karim Snigdha, 49. Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University (JKKNIU) Associate Professor and Writer Umme Farhana, 50. Poet and Journalist Mahmud Shawan.

51. Japan Saga University Associate Professor Dr Likhan Mahmud, 52. UIU Teacher Taniah Mahmuda Tinny, 53. Writer Hormuz Ali, 54. Filmmaker Dipankar Dipon, 55. Researcher Probir Bikash Sorkar, 56. Poet Saifullah Mahmud Dulal, 57. Archivist Nayeem Ul Hasan, 58. Lawyer Syed Mahbubul Alam, 59. JU Associate Professor Ahsan Imam, 60. Rabindra University Assistant Professor Laila Ferdous Himel, 61. Children’s Author Humayun Kabir Dhali, 62. President of New Democratic Ganomorcha Zafar Hossain, 63. Fiction Writer Nahar Monika, 64. Fiction Writer Kuloda Roy, 65. Fiction Writer and Playwright Dr Mukid Chowdhury, 66. Freedom Fighter and Publisher Mozibur Rahman Khoka, 67. Poet Rais Mukul, 67. Poet Mamun Mustafa, 68. Lawyer Miru Khan, 69. Filmmaker Sajeeb Tanvir, 70. Poet and Researcher Alamgir Shahriar, 71. Writer and Film Critic Bidhan Ribeiro, 72. Poet Milan Sabyasachi, 73. Assistant Professor Gopalganj University of Science and Technology Zainab Binte Hossain, 74. Writer and Researcher Susmita Pritha, 75. Filmmaker Imel Haque, 76. Architect Farhana Sharmin Imu, 77. Poet Binoy Karmakar, 78. Lyricist and Composer Sheikh Saifullah Rumi, 79. Poet Asma Adhara, 80. Poet and Journalist Gazi Munshur Aziz, 81. Writer and Development Worker Nishat Sultana, 82. Journalist Hasnat Shaheen, 83. Poet Fakir Ilias, 84. Poet Bakul Ashraf, 85. Poet Motin Raihan, 86. Poet Tushar Gayen, 87. Poet Rokeya Islam, 88. Essayist Ahmad Mazhar, 89. Artist Mohitosh Talukdar Tapas, 90. Poet and Journalist Biren Mukherjee, 91. Poet and Teacher Ronju Raima, 92. Poet Farhana Rahman, 93. Poet and Journalist Chandan Chowdhury, 94. Researcher Nabonita Chakraborty, 95. Poet and Journalist Jahanara Parvin, 96. Poet Monir Yusuf, 97. Poet and Essayist Rajib Kumar Das, 98. Poet Latif Jowarder, 99. Fiction Writer Mohibul Alam, 100. Journalist Saifur Rahman Tapon.

101. Writer and Researcher Pavel Partha, 102. Poet and Journalist Nowshad Jamil, 103. University of Scholars Associate Professor Mamun Al Rashid, 104. Poet Aniket Shamim, 105. Journalist Mostafa Motihar, 106. Poet and Publisher Sharifa Bulbul, 107. Poet and Fiction Writer Ahsan Habib, 108. Fiction Writer Moni Haider, 109. Poet and Publisher Saikat Habib, 110. Poet Kumar Chakraborty, 111. Poet and Filmmaker Dr Masud Pathik, 112. Fiction Writer Swakrito Noman, 113. Playwright and Fiction Writer Ruma Modok, 114. JU Assistant Professor Rahat Minhaz, 115. Journalist Taimur Faruk Tushar, 116. Fiction Writer and Screenwriter Jahan Sultana, 117. Writer and Journalist Hasan Shantanu, 118. Poet Mujib Iram, 119. Poet and Editor Hasan Mahmud, 120. Poet Hasnain Sajjadi, 121. Independent University Assistant Professor Nazneen Shifa, 122. CEO of Bottola Mohammad Ali Haider, 123. Columnist and Journalist Habib Imon, 124. Poet Kazi Labonno, 125. Fiction Writer and Journalist Abdullah Al Imran, 126. Writer and Journalist Dipankar Gautam, 127. Poet Golam Morshed Chandan, 128. Poet Farhan Ishrak, 129. Researcher Ranjana Biswas, 130. Poet Nirjhor Noishobdo, 131. Journalist and Teacher Sudipta Salam, 132. Poet and Filmmaker Mrittika Goon, 133. Journalist Tariq Al Banna, 134. Publisher Khandakar Sohel, 135. Poet Yusuf Reza, 136. Poet Jebunnesa Helen, 137. Poet and Publisher Ali Afzal Khan, 138. Poet Kutub Hilali, 139. Poet and Visual Artist Shotabdi Zahid, 140. Poet and Visual Artist Ringku Animikh, 141. Writer and Teacher Jahangir Hossain, 142. Art Historian Amirul Rajib, 144. Poet Sharadul Sojal, 145. Fiction Writer Shams Said, 146. Poet Achintya Choyon, 147. Journalist Jayanta Saha Joy, 148. Science Writer Abdul Gaffar Roni, 149. Poet Sikta Kajol, 150. Fiction Writer Smriti Bhadra.

151. JU Professor Dr Md Farid Hossain, 152. Poet Nasir Ahmed, 153. Poet Farhana Ilyas Tuli, 154. Poet Rezaul Karim, 155. Poet Shafiq Selim, 156. Poet Ziabul Ibn, 157. Poet Firoz Shah, 158. Journalist Lotus Ibn Habib, 159. Poet Rimjhim Ahmed, 160. Poet and Publisher Anwar Kamal, 161. Poet and Translator Ayesha Jhorna, 162. Noakhali Science and Technology University Assistant Professor Sahana Rahman, 163. Poet Santosh Roy, 164. Fiction Writer Saleh Ronok, 165. Humorous Writer Shafiq Hasan, 166. Journalist Maria Salam, 167. Researcher and Teacher Ishak Sorkar, 168. President of Samajtantrik Chhatro Front Salman Siddiqui, 169. General Secretary of Bangladesh Workers’ Federation Masud Reza, 170. General Secretary of Samajtantrik Chhatro Front Rafiquzzaman Farid, 171. Acting President of Revolutionary Student-Youth Movement Tawfika Priya, 172. Revolutionary Women’s Liberation Activist Nusrat Jahan, 173. Anthropologist and Filmmaker Rafsan Ahmed, 174. JU Chhatra Front Organisational Secretary Apel Ahmed, 175. DU Revolutionary Student Unity President Nuzia Hasin Rasha, 176. DU Revolutionary Student Unity General Secretary Sami Abdullah, 177. Sramik Andolon Leader Sabnam Hafiz, 178. Sramik Andolon Leader Zane Roman Rosario Talukdar, 179. Researcher and Writer Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, 180. Revolutionary Student Unity President Dilip Roy, 181. Political Activist Tahmina Yasmin Neela, 182. Political Activist Parvez Mahmud, 183. Filmmaker Shaheenur Akhtar Shaheen, 184. Journalist Ayen Uddin, 185. Bangladesh Youth Front Convener Robiul Karim Nantu, 186. Cultural Activist Marzia Prabha, 187. University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh Teacher Oliur Shan, 188. Literary Critic Laboni Mondol, 189. Journalist Shahin Arafat, 190. Politician Shamim Imam, 191. Poet Ariful Islam, 192. Poet and Playwright Apu Mehdi, 193. Poet Shekhar Dev, 194. Poet and Editor Khaled Uddin, 195. Storyteller and Editor Alamgir Masud, 196. Poet Tipu Sultan, 197. Columnist Mortuza Hasan Saikat, 198. Fiction Writer Upama Talukdar, 199. Poet and Story Writer Shahan Shahabuddin, 200. Poet Shishir Rajan.

201. President of Bangladesh Nari Muktir Kendra Sima Dutta, 202. Poet and Journalist Girish Goiric, 203. Fiction Writer Rashed Rehman, 204. Poet Khaled Chowdhury, 205. Poet Samtan Rahman, 206. Journalist and Activist Fazle Elahi, 207. Poet and Fiction Writer Swarlipi, 208. Poet Sofia Zahir, 209. Poet and Publisher Arif Nazrul, 210. Short Story Writer Nahar Trina, 211. Poet and Researcher Banga Rakhal, 212. Poet Parth Protima Dey, 213. Poet and Journalist Purnia Samia, 214. Poet Shekh Khalilur Rahman, 215. Poet Shamima Sultana, 216. Fiction Writer Shahmub Juel, 217. Short Story Writer Shipa Sultana, 218. Fiction Writer Arifur Rahman, 219. Poet Imran Porosh, 220. Journalist Jewel Raj, 221. Rhymester Borhan Masud, 222. Poet Roni Barman, 223. Writer Mehedi Hasan Shoaib, 224. Poet Shekhar Bala, 225. Poet Mahmud Noman, 226. Children’s Author Apon Apu, 227. Poet Dipankar Marduk, 228. Social Worker Rihan Sardar, 229. Poet Rakib Hasan, 230. Social Activist Afzal Hossain, 231. Publisher Redwanur Juel, 232. Poet Sheela Mostafa, 233. Short Story Writer SM Niyaz Maola, 234. Writer Riton Ran, 235. Short Story Writer, Essayist, and Translator Nahar Trina, 236. Political Analyst and Online Activist SM Towfiqul Islam, 237. Poet and Fiction Writer Nahid Dhrubo, 238. Freedom Fighter and Writer Faridur Rahman, 239. Journalist and Writer Ummul Wara Sweety, 240. Poet and Researcher Masuduzzaman, 241. Poet Hasnain Sajjadi, 242. Publisher Sohanur Rahim Shawon, and 243. Publisher Zahirul Abedin Jewel.