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February 08, 2026 – Bangladesh –
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and media organisations have condemned the alleged late-night detention of 21 journalists and staff members from the Bangladesh Times office in Dhaka, calling it an authoritarian move and a serious threat to press freedom ahead of the country’s national elections. The incident has sparked widespread concern about the safety and independence of journalists in Bangladesh.
On the evening of 8 February 2026, Bangladesh Army personnel entered the Nikunja area newsroom of the Bangladesh Times — an online news outlet — and took 21 people, including reporters, office assistants, and security guards, from their workplace. The mobile journalism editor-in-chief, Sabbir Ahmed, said the group was seized around 9:30 pm following a WhatsApp message from an individual claiming to be from the Uttara Army Camp who objected to a video the outlet had published about a protest.
The staff members were transported to the Uttara Army Camp. During the incident, some reports indicated that personal devices were temporarily confiscated and that questioning took place before all individuals were released back to their offices by around 11:30 pm that same night. Army representatives later described the encounter as a “discussion” about a misunderstanding rather than a formal detention.
TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman criticised the operation as an “authoritarian” act that bypassed legal channels and created a climate of fear across the country’s media sector. Speaking at a forum where TIB released a report on pre-election conditions, he said forcibly removing journalists from their workplace without clear charges or justification was unacceptable and could not be justified under any circumstances.
Media freedom advocates and press bodies echoed these concerns, describing the episode as intimidation rather than routine security engagement. They pointed to broader patterns of pressure on independent journalism in Bangladesh, including recent attacks, arson, and vandalism at major newspaper offices, and called on authorities to uphold legal protections and allow journalists to work without undue interference.
The Bangladesh Times management condemned the incident as unjustified and an attack on independent journalism at a politically sensitive time. The events have intensified debate over the state of press freedom in Bangladesh, particularly as national elections approach and tensions around reporting on protests and security forces persist.
Reference –
Bangladesh Army picks up 21 journalists from Dhaka newsroom, releases them hours later
