Shibbir Ahmed, New York – Channel i and Impress Telefilm, two prominent names in Bangladesh’s television industry, celebrated their 28th anniversary with a colorful event in New York. The celebration brought together prominent members of the Bangladeshi diaspora for an evening of awards, musical performances and greetings. The event was jointly hosted by Ekushey Padak-winning writer, filmmaker and singer Afzal Hossain and journalist and television presenter Mainul Islam.

One of the highlights of the program was the presentation of awards recognizing contributions to journalism, environmental journalism, and the promotion and expansion of Channel i across North America.

Mainul Islam, special correspondent and presenter at Channel i, was honored for his contributions to journalism. Special correspondent Md. Soumik Ahmed received recognition for his work in environmental journalism, while General Manager Md. Mohiuddin Khan Moin was honored for his role in promoting and expanding Channel i’s presence in North America.

The award ceremony was attended by Faridur Reza Sagar, managing director of Impress Telefilm Limited and Channel i, along with Afzal Hossain, entrepreneur Kona Reza and other distinguished guests.

Speakers emphasized the importance of the media in promoting the Bengali language and culture and showcasing Bangladesh’s heritage abroad. They noted that Bangla-language media serving expatriate communities can help strengthen the connection between younger generations and Bangladesh’s language, culture and traditions. The cultural segment was another major attraction of the evening. Popular actress Moushumi and singer Dinat Jahan Munni delighted the audience with a duet performance.

Other notable attendees included journalist Khalid Mohiuddin, Bangladesh’s Press Minister in Washington, Golam Mortuza, and Anisuzzaman, Bangladesh’s Deputy Consul General in New York. Leaders of the Bangladesh-American Police Association (BAPA), along with artists, businesspeople and guests from various professional backgrounds, also attended the celebration.

The 28th anniversary celebration of Channel i and Impress Telefilm served as a gathering of the Bangladeshi diaspora, highlighting the enduring role of Bengali-language media in preserving cultural identity and strengthening community ties abroad.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York –  International human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) has raised concerns over the mass detention of opposition political activists in Bangladesh, warning of growing threats to political freedoms and human rights. In a report published on October 5, HRW said police detained approximately 290 people attending a meeting of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), a left-wing political party, in Dhaka on September 26.

According to the report written by Elaine Pearson, HRW’s Asia director, members of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) youth wing, Jubo Dal, alleged that the gathering was a secret meeting of the banned Awami League. The report said a court remanded 27 of those detained to custody over allegations that they had chanted “Joy Bangla,” a slogan associated with the Awami League.

The JSD was part of the 14-party alliance led by the Awami League, which governed Bangladesh from 2009 until 2024. The Sheikh Hasina government fell following student-led protests in 2024, during which hundreds of people were killed by security forces, according to the HRW report.

HRW also reported that police detained 12 Awami League activists in Barisal on September 26 over allegations that they had held a secret meeting to plan sabotage. Two days later, another 15 people were arrested in Dhaka under Bangladesh’s 2009 Anti-Terrorism Act on similar allegations. According to the report, those detained said they had gathered to mark former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s birthday.

The report noted that serious human rights violations occurred during Hasina’s rule, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture and arbitrary detention of political opponents. The BNP also faced severe repression while it was in opposition. However, HRW stressed that past human rights abuses do not justify similar violations by the current government.

The organization expressed concern over the arbitrary detention of perceived Awami League supporters and the rollback of human rights safeguards proposed by the interim government.

International human rights law protects freedom of expression and association. According to HRW, violations committed under a previous government cannot justify restrictions on the same rights under a new administration. The report underscores continuing concerns over the protection of political freedoms, due process and the rule of law in Bangladesh.