Dhaka, July 8, 2025 — In a powerful collective move, more than fifty journalists from diverse media organizations across Bangladesh have issued a joint statement denouncing growing threats to press freedom, attacks on media institutions, and the alarming incarceration of fellow journalists. The statement, signed by 51 journalists on Monday, calls for the immediate release on bail of imprisoned media professionals and demands the reopening of the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) office, which has been sealed for nearly a year.
The statement, disseminated to newsrooms by Bengal News 24 Editor Taimur Faruk Tushar, condemns the escalating hostility against the press, including fabricated criminal charges, job dismissals, violent attacks, and systemic harassment. It highlights an intensifying atmosphere of fear within the journalistic community.
The statement conveys from all press freedom journalist, “We, journalists from various media organizations, are deeply concerned to observe that the country is now being held hostage by mob violence. The media is not exempt from this hostage situation. The environment for journalists has become fearful due to murder cases being filed against them, job terminations, attacks on media offices, killings, and torture of journalists. In front of the offices of several leading national newspapers, mobs have slaughtered cows and held feasts as a form of intimidation. These acts are being carried out openly by identified mob elements without facing any legal consequences. It is therefore not unreasonable to assume that some powerful quarters may be backing them.”
The statement continues, “According to reports published by both domestic and international media and claims by human rights activists, at least 10 journalists have been killed between July and December of last year. Over the past 11 months, at least 412 journalists have been implicated in widespread murder and other harassment cases across the country. Thirty-nine journalists have been arrested. The Ministry of Information has canceled the press accreditation cards of 168 journalists. Memberships of 101 journalists have been suspended, canceled, or terminated from the National Press Club and other press clubs nationwide. More than 300 journalists are facing travel bans, and the bank accounts of over 100 journalists have been frozen. In the past 11 months, more than a thousand journalists have lost their jobs. Mob violence has taken control of media institutions and journalist organizations. The Dhaka Union of Journalists’ office has been locked for 11 months.”
It further states, “Every citizen in this country has the legal right to seek redress or obtain bail. Yet for unknown reasons, imprisoned journalists are being denied these rights. Many journalists remain in prison for months without trial. These are clear violations of human rights. We had hoped the interim government would rise above political affiliations to control this mob violence, protect media workers from persecution and arbitrary labeling, and ensure job security. This would allow journalists to pursue objective reporting without fear. But nearly a year into the interim government’s tenure, the situation has not significantly improved. We remain deeply concerned.”
The journalists conclude with these demands, “We demand justice for all murders and abuses of journalists, strongly condemn the harassment of journalists, and call for the immediate release on bail of those imprisoned. We urge the government to ensure freedom of the press and put an end to the persecution of journalists. Immediate action should be taken against those who openly threaten or attempt to intimidate the media. Attempts to silence journalists by labeling them politically must stop.”
Signatories (not listed in order of seniority):
Abu Zafar Surjo (former president, DUJ), Syed Shukur Ali Shubho (former president and general secretary, DRU), senior journalist Nazrul Kabir, Syed Borhan Kabir (editor-in-chief, Bangla Insider), Akhtar Hossain (general secretary, DUJ), Zakir Hossain Iman (former president, Dhaka Sub-Editors’ Council), Mohammad Faruk Hossain (Tanvir), president of TV Camerajournalist Association (TCA), Sheikh Jamal (editor, Daily Mukhpoth), Mohsin Kazi (joint secretary general, BFUJ), Mahmudul Alam Noyon (vice president, BFUJ), senior journalist and Liberation War researcher Jamal Uddin, Saeeduzzaman Samrat (president, Khulna Journalists Union), Deepak Chowdhury Bappi (president, Brahmanbaria Journalists Union), Farhadul Islam Parvez (general secretary, Brahmanbaria Journalists Union), Riyaz Haider Chowdhury (president, Chattogram Journalists Union), senior journalist Nizamul Haque Bipul, Md. Ashraf Ali (joint general secretary, National Press Club), Mainul Hossain Pinnu (senior journalist), Abdus Salam Shanto (general secretary, Gazipur Journalists Union), Khairul Alam (former joint secretary, DUJ), senior journalists Taufiq Maruf and Riazul Bashar, Soheli Chowdhury (treasurer, DUJ), Golam Mujtaba Dhrubo (organizational secretary, DUJ), Israfil Shaheen (general secretary, TV Producers Association), Saif Ali (former legal secretary, DUJ), Raju Hamid (former publicity secretary, DUJ), Zubair Chowdhury (former welfare secretary, DUJ), A K M Obaidur Rahman (former general secretary, Dhaka Sub-Editors Council), Rezaul Karim Reza (former sports and cultural secretary, DUJ), freelance journalist Sajeda Parvin, Md. Ramzan Ali (senior reporter, Sokoler Sangbad), Gazi Tushar Ahmed (chief reporter, Daily Dhaka), Warechchunnabi Khandakar (GTV), Pradeep Chowdhury (Sakal Sondhya), Jharna Moni (former women affairs secretary, DRU), senior journalist Ikhtiar Uddin, J M Rouf (president, Bogura Journalists Union), Hamid Mohammad Jasim (member secretary, Swadhinata Sangbadik Parishad), Siddiqur Rahman (former general secretary, Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum), Md. Alamgir Hossain (vice president, Gazipur Journalists Union), senior journalists Shamima Dola, A Z M Sajjad Hossain Shobuj, Farzana Binte Hossain (Farzana Shova), Rafiqul Islam Sujon, Taimur Faruk Tushar (editor, Bengal News 24), Nasreen Geeti (executive council member, DUJ), Shamima Akhter (former president, Law Reporters Forum), Kibria Chowdhury (general secretary, Bangladesh Newspaper Council and editor, Dainik Jatiyo Arthoniti), Shafiqul Islam (joint general secretary, Political Reporters Forum), and M Zahidul Islam (former publicity and publication secretary, Dhaka Sub-Editors Council). ASM
