Journalist Nazrul Islam Mithu barred from travelling abroad

Senior international journalist Nazrul Islam Mithu was prevented from travelling abroad by immigration police and intelligence agencies at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Sunday. The incident occurred on Sunday, as the world was observing World Press Freedom Day.

Mithu, who serves as the Dhaka correspondent for the German state news agency, dpa, was scheduled to depart for a visit to China. He is the incumbent president of the Overseas Correspondents Association Bangladesh (OCAB) and a former President of the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).

According to a social media post by Mithu, the incident began on Sunday afternoon while he was queuing at the immigration counter after collecting his boarding pass. A police officer called him by name and escorted him to the office of the Special Superintendent of Police (SP) in charge of immigration.

Inside the office, Mithu was questioned in detail about his profession and identity. He reported being surrounded by four field-level officers from an intelligence agency who interrogated him regarding his role as OCAB President and whether there were any criminal cases filed against him.

Although the police officers present admitted there were no legal charges against him, they detained him for a prolonged period, citing a lack of “agency clearance.”

After an hour-long wait, as the flight departure time approached, the SP informed him that he would not be allowed to travel that day.

When asked for a specific reason, the official could not provide a satisfactory answer, stating only that they were following instructions received from a “higher authority.” Subsequently, the airline authorities were directed to offload his luggage, and he was compelled to leave the airport.

Mithu observed that during his time at the airport, immigration police were also seen harassing other ordinary passengers with irrelevant questioning.

Commenting on the incident, Mithu stated that such actions are contrary to Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which explicitly guarantees every citizen the right to leave their own country and to return to it.

The restriction comes just one day after OCAB issued a call for an end to all forms of repression against the media. It also coincides with World Press Freedom Day, an occasion on which United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has been emphasising the critical importance of media freedom.

Intelligence ‘stop list’ cited for detention

A high-ranking official from the immigration branch of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, speaking to TIMES of Bangladesh on condition of anonymity, revealed that a police intelligence agency has issued a “stop list” containing the names of several individuals.

Mithu was detained during immigration because his name appeared on that list, which was prepared by the Police’s Special Branch.

When contacted for a statement regarding the incident, the Special Branch special superintendent (SS) on duty at the airport declined to comment. Officials maintained that Mithu was not permitted to travel abroad because he lacked the necessary “intelligence clearance.”