In an extraordinary show of unity and concern, more than 50 prominent Bangladeshi journalists—including top editors, reporters, and media union leaders—have jointly condemned a disturbing escalation in mob violence, judicial harassment, and government pressure targeting members of the press. Their joint statement, released Monday, paints a grim picture of a media environment under siege, where freedom of expression is being steadily choked by an alarming mix of impunity and state-sponsored intimidation.
The signatories—who represent nearly every major news outlet in the country—have not only called for the immediate bail of detained journalists but have also urged the authorities to halt a campaign of suppression that has led to job losses, revoked press credentials, frozen bank accounts, and travel restrictions for hundreds in the media.
A Pattern of Fear: Murders, Arrests, and Censorship
Since July 2024, Bangladesh’s press corps has witnessed an unprecedented wave of repression. At least 10 journalists have been killed in the line of duty, several under circumstances suggesting targeted assassinations rather than random violence. The killings, often marked by brutality, have shocked civil society, yet investigations remain slow and inconclusive.
According to figures compiled by media rights groups, 412 journalists have been charged under criminal laws, including serious allegations like murder and sedition. Of these, 39 have been arrested, many languishing in jail for months without trial. Basic legal rights, such as access to counsel and the ability to apply for bail, have been systematically denied in many cases.
In addition, the government has taken a sweeping approach to restrict media access by revoking accreditation cards for at least 168 journalists—stripping them of the legal right to report. More than 300 reporters are facing travel bans, and the bank accounts of hundreds have been frozen without public explanation. A total of 1,037 journalists have lost their jobs, while press union offices, including the Dhaka Union of Journalists, have been sealed by authorities.
Media professionals view these developments not as isolated acts of legal enforcement but as part of a broader strategy to mute dissent and discourage investigative journalism. “The coordinated nature of these actions indicates an organised attempt to dismantle the independence of journalism in this country,” said a senior editor who co-signed the joint statement.
Mobs on the March: Orchestrated Violence and State Silence Beyond the courtrooms and administrative offices, the intimidation campaign has also taken to the streets. Reporters and editors have become frequent targets of angry mobs—many of them allegedly linked to political groups or operating with state acquiescence. News offices have been attacked, journalists harassed in their homes, and disturbing acts of symbolic violence—such as the slaughtering of cows in front of newspaper offices—have gone unpunished.
In one case, a group of men identifying themselves as “media vigilantes” openly claimed responsibility for an assault on a regional news bureau. No arrests were made. In other incidents, reporters were forced to make public apologies or delete published content under threat of further action. “These mobs don’t act alone,” said a journalist working for a leading national daily. “They know they are protected, and that makes them fearless.”
While these acts are criminal on their face, the journalists’ collective statement accuses law enforcement agencies of deliberate inaction. “None of these attackers are being brought under the law,” the statement reads. “In fact, many of them have links to politically powerful figures and enjoy immunity.”
This atmosphere of fear has a chilling effect on newsrooms. Editors now routinely avoid publishing critical stories involving state institutions or powerful political actors. Reporters think twice before covering controversial issues. Self-censorship is becoming the norm.Hopes Betrayed: A Government That Promised Reform, Now Silencing Dissent The current interim administration came to power with promises of restoring democratic values, transparency, and rule of law. When it replaced the previous government in mid-2024, many journalists and civil society actors saw an opportunity for renewal—a return to constitutional norms and respect for media freedom.
However, as the months have progressed, that optimism has given way to disappointment and alarm. Far from curbing institutional overreach, the administration has allowed an unprecedented rollback of press freedoms. Rather than dismantling the tools of suppression created by previous regimes, the government appears to be expanding them.
“The crackdown is not just continuing—it’s accelerating,” said one of the journalists behind the joint statement. “Offices are being raided, journalists branded as traitors, their jobs taken away, and their passports seized. This is not reform. This is repression.”
The statement issues a clear and urgent set of demands. First, the immediate release on bail of all jailed journalists. Second, a credible judicial inquiry into the acts of violence and threats against media personnel. Third, criminal action against those who publicly incite violence against reporters and news organisations. And fourth, an end to politically motivated labelling of journalists as aligned with opposition forces.
These demands are rooted in a simple yet powerful principle: that journalism is not a crime, and reporters must be allowed to do their work without fear of violence, arrest, or economic ruin.
As the statement notes, “A democracy cannot function without a free press. Journalism is not a partisan activity. It is a service to the public.” It warns that unless these threats are addressed, the country risks becoming a state where only approved narratives are allowed to survive, and where speaking the truth is punished instead of protected.
The international community has begun to take notice. Several human rights groups and press freedom organisations have issued statements expressing concern over the situation in Bangladesh. Yet domestic reform remains essential. Without the will to protect media freedom at home, no amount of foreign pressure can ensure the survival of independent journalism.
As Bangladesh stands at this critical crossroads, its media faces a test of endurance—and its government a test of principle. The road ahead will determine whether the country can reclaim the democratic values it once aspired to, or whether it will continue down a path where truth is treated as subversion, and the press as an enemy.
