Bangladesh, July 16 -- Five international rights and press freedom organisations have called on Bangladesh to release four journalists arrested after the July Uprising and drop tribunal proceedings linked to their work.

In a joint statement on Wednesday, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Committee to Protect Journalists, ARTICLE 19 and CIVICUS named Farzana Rupa, Shakil Ahmed, Mozammel Babu and Shyamal Dutta.

The groups said Bangladesh should ensure that journalists are not criminally prosecuted -- particularly for crimes against humanity -- for their reporting.

Their concern has grown after the International Crimes Tribunal intensified its investigation against Rupa and Babu, part-owned private Ekattor TV station, over t...