Bangladesh's Press Freedom Under Siege: Shocking Rise in Attacks on Journalists

Escalating Violence Against Journalists in Bangladesh

New Delhi: A report released by the Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) has revealed alarming statistics regarding the treatment of journalists in Bangladesh under the interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus. The report indicates that 878 journalists faced attacks in the past year alone.

According to the RRAG's findings, titled 'Bangladesh: Media Freedom Murdered By Dr Muhammad Yunus', there has been a staggering 230% increase in assaults on journalists compared to the previous year, where 383 incidents were recorded during the tenure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The report marks the one-year anniversary of the fall of the Awami League government, highlighting a significant decline in press freedom in Bangladesh. From August 2024 to July 2025, the number of journalists attacked surged dramatically.

Suhas Chakma, the director of RRAG, elaborated on the situation, noting that the number of criminal cases against journalists under Yunus's administration rose to 195, a 558% increase from the 35 cases filed during Hasina's rule.

Chakma pointed out that while Hasina's government did not deny journalist accreditations, Yunus's regime has used this as a punitive measure, revoking the credentials of 167 media personnel.

Furthermore, under Hasina, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) was not utilized against journalists, but Yunus's government has issued notices to 107 journalists through this agency.

The report also states that acts of violence and intimidation against media personnel have escalated, with 431 journalists experiencing such threats during Yunus's tenure, compared to 348 under Hasina.

Tragically, the report recounts the murder of journalist Khandaker Shah Alam on June 25, 2025, in Dhaka, a targeted attack linked to local criminal elements.

On July 27, 2025, the Cyber Tribunal of Dhaka issued arrest warrants for three journalists under the controversial Digital Security Act, despite previous assurances from the Law Adviser that all such cases had been withdrawn.

Additionally, Kongkon Karmaker was dismissed from The Daily Star for reporting on the death of a religious minority, which gained attention from Indian media and officials.

Chakma criticized Yunus for establishing the 'CA Press Wing Facts', which acts as a censorship body, manipulating the narrative and intimidating media outlets and NGOs.

The RRAG plans to engage with the international community, including the UK's Human Rights Joint Committee, to seek support for addressing governance issues in Bangladesh and to advocate for the restoration of media freedoms.