Journalist Killed as Bangladesh Protests Spiral Into Deadly Unrest

December 19, 2025 – Bangladesh – 

Violent unrest in Bangladesh has escalated sharply in December 2025, claiming the life of a journalist and intensifying fears over press freedom and public safety amid nationwide protests. The turmoil erupted following the killing of a Hindu youth during demonstrations, triggering widespread clashes, arson, and targeted attacks across multiple regions. As protests spread, journalists increasingly found themselves caught in the violence, facing direct threats while reporting on the unfolding crisis.

One of the most serious incidents occurred in Khulna, where journalist Imdadul Haque Milon was shot dead by unidentified assailants. Milon, a local reporter associated with an online news outlet and a former press club leader, was attacked at night while sitting at a tea stall. Gunmen on motorcycles opened fire, killing him at the scene and injuring another individual. His killing sent shockwaves through Bangladesh’s media community, with colleagues and press organisations condemning the attack as a grave assault on journalism. Authorities opened an investigation, but no clear motive or suspects had been publicly identified at the time of reporting.

The journalist’s death unfolded against a backdrop of growing instability. Protests sparked by the earlier killing of a Hindu youth escalated rapidly, with demonstrators clashing with security forces and engaging in widespread vandalism. Several media houses were targeted during the unrest, with news offices attacked, equipment damaged, and staff forced to flee for safety. In some cases, newspaper operations were disrupted entirely, underscoring the severity of the situation and the vulnerability of journalists covering politically sensitive events.

Alongside attacks on the press, communal violence also intensified. Reports of mob attacks, including the lynching of a Hindu man during protest-related unrest, highlighted rising sectarian tensions that further destabilised the country. Civil society groups warned that the convergence of political unrest, communal violence, and assaults on journalists posed a serious threat to democratic norms and freedom of expression.

Press freedom advocates have called on Bangladeshi authorities to conduct swift, transparent investigations into the killing of Imdadul Haque Milon and other attacks on media workers. They have urged stronger protections for journalists and accountability for perpetrators, stressing that violence against the press undermines the public’s right to information at a critical moment of national crisis.

Reference – 

https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/cde86d2dabc1

https://www.newagebd.net/post/country/285665/journalist-shot-dead-another-injured-in-khulna

Bangladesh Protests: Hindu youth killed, journalist shot dead & 2 news outlets torched… What we know so far?