Bangladesh human rights advocates demand justice for killers of gay electrician
Bank treasurer and associate professor charged with the crime
Two men were arrested on July 6 in Bangladesh on charges of murdering an openly gay man after luring him to an isolated rooftop.
Police claimed that the murder of electrician Parvez Hasan was motivated by jealousy related to a same-sex relationship. However, Bangladeshi LGBT+ rights activists believe the circumstances point more strongly toward it being a hate crime.
The murder suspects are Mehedi Hasan Iman, treasurer of Al-Arafah Islami Bank, and Dr. Arman Hossain, associate professor at US-Bangla Medical College.
Shahanur Islam, founder-president of the advocacy group JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), stated:
“If jealousy were the true motive, one would expect conflict between the two accused individuals themselves. Instead, they acted together — jointly luring Parvez to the rooftop where he was killed. This coordinated action suggests a shared motive that goes beyond personal rivalry.
“Additionally, both of the accused are affiliated with institutions connected to Islamic political groups, which raises serious concerns about the possibility of religiously motivated violence.
“This, in our view, supports the argument that Parvez was targeted not out of jealousy, but due to his sexual orientation — making this a hate crime.”
JMBF issued this statement about the crime, which occurred in Rupganj, about 15 miles outside Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh:
JMBF Condemns the Brutal Murder of Gay Electrician Parvez Hasan and Urges Immediate Action to End Violence Against the LGBT+ Community
Paris, France; 13 July 2025: France-based human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep concern and strongly condemns the brutal murder of gay electrician Parvez Hasan (35) in Rupganj, Narayanganj, widely recognized as a hate crime rooted in his sexual orientation.
JMBF firmly believes that murdering a person solely because of their same-sex relationship constitutes a grave violation of existing laws, the Constitution of Bangladesh, and the fundamental human rights enshrined by the United Nations.
According to multiple news reports and JMBF’s own reliable sources, on July 5th, Parvez Hasan—an openly gay electrician—was brutally hacked to death in Rupganj, Narayanganj. Police from Rupganj Police Station have confirmed that the murder stemmed from a conflict related to his same-sex relationship. Parvez, originally from Supchar village in Pabna Sadar, was residing in a rented apartment on the fifth floor of Gias Uddin Molla’s building in Rupganj.
On the night of July 2nd, Mehedi Hasan Iman, Treasurer of Al-Arafah Islami Bank in Muradnagar, Cumilla, and Dr. Arman Hossain, Associate Professor at US-Bangla Medical College, lured Parvez to the rooftop of Gias Uddin Molla’s five-story building in the Amlabo area of Rupganj. There, they attacked him with sharp weapons, leaving him severely injured and unconscious. Later, a teenage boy named Siam (14), who lived in another apartment in the building, discovered Parvez in a pool of blood and alerted his family. Parvez was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he died at around 1:00 AM on July 5th, succumbing to his injuries while receiving treatment.
Following a case filed by Parvez’s family, Rupganj police launched an investigation. Using CCTV footage and digital surveillance, police arrested Mehedi Hasan Iman and Dr. Arman Hossain in separate raids conducted in Tarabo (Rupganj) and Cumilla on the night of July 6th. Investigations revealed that the murder was premeditated and motivated solely by a dispute rooted in a same-sex relationship.
Robert Simon, renowned French LGBTQ+ rights activist and JMBF Chief Advisor, stated, “Murdering a citizen solely based on their sexual identity is a blatant violation of human rights and justice. The killing of Parvez, a gay man, has occurred at a time when Bangladesh is under the interim leadership of Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus. Yet this government has completely failed to ensure the safety of minorities and marginalized communities.”
Advocate Shahanur Islam, prominent human rights lawyer and founder-president of JMBF, said, “The murder of Parvez is not an isolated incident. It reflects the insensitivity and inaction of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government and is a stark indicator of the widespread violence against LGBTQ+ individuals in Bangladesh. The government’s silence at the highest levels and its failure to take any effective measures to protect the LGBT+ community are deeply alarming.”
JMBF’s Urgent Demands:
1. Ensure a prompt, impartial, and high-level trial for the murder of Parvez Hasan: Justice must be served swiftly through an unbiased legal process, free from political influence or favoritism. The trial should be held under a special tribunal with oversight from the higher judiciary to set a precedent that violence based on sexual orientation will not be tolerated.
2. Guarantee the safety and dignity of LGBT+ individuals, including gay and transgender people: LGBT+ communities in Bangladesh continue to face neglect, abuse, and violence from their families, society, workplaces, and even law enforcement agencies. The state must ensure a safe and respectful social environment for all. Equal access to justice, healthcare, housing, and other fundamental rights must be legally and administratively guaranteed.
3. Enact and implement a specific law against hate crimes: The murder of Parvez Hasan is a textbook example of a hate crime. Bangladesh currently lacks any clear legislation against such crimes. JMBF urges the government to immediately enact a Hate Crime Act that prescribes strict penalties for violence or discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender, religion, ethnicity, or ideology.
4. Repeal Section 377 of the Penal Code: Section 377, a colonial-era law, criminalizes consensual same-sex relationships and remains a tool of violence and harassment against LGBT+ individuals. Many countries, including India, have repealed this outdated law. Bangladesh must do the same in line with its constitutional commitment to equality and human rights.
5. Enact and implement the Protection Act for Sexual and Gender Minorities: There is currently no specific protection law for gay and gender-diverse citizens in Bangladesh. This legal void contributes to their daily experiences of insecurity, persecution, and social exclusion. JMBF calls for the immediate drafting and implementation of a comprehensive Sexual and Gender Diversity Protection Act to secure their basic rights, safety, education, employment, healthcare, and familial recognition.
JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) believes that human rights are universal, and that no one’s right to life should ever be denied based on their sexual identity or orientation.
JMBF calls upon the international community, the European Union, the UN Human Rights Council, diplomatic missions, and the French government—as well as all global human rights organizations—to raise their voices against the ongoing persecution of LGBT+ individuals in Bangladesh and apply effective pressure on the Bangladeshi authorities.
JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) reaffirms its unwavering commitment to stand in solidarity with Bangladesh’s LGBTQUI+ community and to champion the cause of justice and human dignity without compromise.
