# Pinaki Bhattacharya

Pinaki Bhattacharya (Bengali: পিনাকী ভট্টাচার্য; born 1 March 1967) is a Bangladeshi activist and physician known for his criticism of Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League party-led government.

## Early life

Pinaki was born in a Bengali Hindu family in 1967. He is the elder son of former school teacher of Bogra Zilla School and cultural organiser Shyamol Bhattacharya. He has one brother and one sister.

## Education

Pinaki completed his SSC at Bogra Zilla School and HSC at Government Azizul Haque College. He studied medicine from 1985 to 1992, in Rajshahi Medical College and Later graduated in 1992. Pinaki is a medical professional with an MBBS degree and an MBA from IAE Paris Sorbonne Business School, currently pursuing a PhD in sustainability.

## Career

Pinaki is best known as a social activist. He is based in Paris, working for L'Oréal. He is also a marketing professional at a French multinational company.He was an adjunct faculty at American International University-Bangladesh.

## Politics

Pinaki was once involved in leftist politics, being a former member of the Communist Party of Bangladesh. When he was a student at Rajshahi Medical College, he was involved in Bangladesh Students' Union politics and joined 1990 Mass Uprising in Bangladesh. Pinaki Bhattacharya has criticized the Bangladesh Awami League government's corruption, human rights violations, kidnappings, and extrajudicial killings. His posts and tweets are often critical of Bangladesh's former ruling party, the Awami League. He claimed political asylum in France.

## Activism

Pinaki is a well-known activist. He has million followers on social media. During 2018 Bangladesh road-safety protests photographer Shahidul Alam was arrested by the police for his participation. At the same time, DGFI intelligence officers summoned Pinaki to their headquarters in Dhaka. They did not explain why he was summoned. There are instances where military intelligence officers summon dissidents to their offices, many of whom have disappeared after meeting with military intelligence. Pinaki went into hiding and Intelligence officials raided his residence and office several time and kept his residence under surveillance.
While he was in hiding, authorities banned him from leaving the country, but he was able to leave with the help of friends and reached Bangkok in January 2019. Two months later he reached France where he is under political asylum. On 15 November 2022 CTTC sues Pinaki Bhattacharya under DSA. According to the case statement, CTTC noticed a Facebook post by Pinaki on 14 October through which ‘misinformation about police was spread on social media’. On 31 October 2024 Dhaka court cyber tribunal judge Noor-e-Alam acquitted Pinaki Bhattacharya on a case filed under the Digital Security Act, accusing them of tarnishing the country's image.
He became popular for his role in the India out campaign in Bangladesh.
"A striking example of such interference was the mockery of democracy seen in the January 7 elections, where India's involvement was pivotal in upholding a regime that blatantly favors India's strategic, political, and economic agendas," Bhattacharya told DW.
In February 2024, Pinaki threatened Bangladeshi actor Mosharraf Karim not to be involved in the promotion of the film Hubba directed by Bratya Basu and Hoichoi or Indian OTT platforms. In May of the same year, he was criticized for spreading rumors on the EC's NID wing website showing fees in Indian rupees instead of Bangladeshi takas.
In February 2025, he encouraged his followers to demolish Dhanmondi 32 Number House.

## Personal Life

Pinaki married his former classmate, Anjuman Ara Begum, at Rajshahi Medical College, and they have a son named Rosef Anjuman Shuvo. His wife is a doctor with an FCPS qualification.