Journalists Under Threat Amid Political Shift in Bangladesh

April 14, 2025 – Bangladesh – 

Amid Bangladesh’s ongoing political transformation, journalists remain under severe threat despite a change in leadership. The ousting of longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024 and the rise of a transitional government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus brought hopes for improved press freedom. However, recent developments suggest that repression of the media continues, with journalists facing violence, legal harassment, and intimidation.

Since early 2025, attacks on journalists have escalated. Several reporters have been beaten by law enforcement and political operatives during protests. Newsrooms have been raided, and journalists covering sensitive issues have been threatened or assaulted. Five reporters were killed during the 2024 Monsoon Revolution, and over 250 were injured in clashes. In a troubling move, the interim administration has revoked the press credentials of 167 journalists without explanation, frozen their bank accounts, and blocked their access to government buildings.

Legal challenges also persist. Despite promises to repeal the widely criticized Digital Security Act (DSA), the government has proposed new legislation—the Cyber Protection Ordinance and the Personal Data Protection Ordinance—that critics argue could replicate or worsen existing restrictions. These draft laws would grant sweeping authority to regulate online content and user data, raising fears of continued surveillance and censorship.

International rights groups, including Reporters Without Borders and Human Rights Watch, have condemned these actions. They urge the government to halt repression, prosecute those responsible for attacks on journalists, and uphold freedom of expression. So far, the government’s response has been minimal, and journalists sympathetic to the former ruling party continue to be targeted, with some facing charges linked to past political unrest.

The political transition has done little to change the climate of fear within Bangladesh’s media. Rather than gaining more independence, journalists now navigate a complex environment of state control, legal uncertainty, and potential violence. As the country prepares for future elections, press freedom remains in jeopardy, with global observers closely monitoring the situation.

Reference – 

https://theprint.in/world/journalists-face-growing-threats-amid-power-reshuffle-in-bangladesh/2593558/

https://albd.org/articles/news/41545/

https://ijnet.org/en/story/amid-power-reshuffle-bangladesh-journalists-remain-under-attack