The Voice News: London/Dhaka, June 2025 — At a high-profile event hosted by Chatham House in London, Bangladesh’s interim Chief Advisor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, declared that freedom of the press in Bangladesh was “unprecedented.” “That’s not true. The media has never had this much freedom. They can say whatever they want,” Yunus asserted.However, a closer look inside Bangladesh paints a starkly different picture—one marred by intimidation, imprisonment, legal harassment, and what journalists describe as a culture of fear.266 Journalists Facing Murder or Violence ChargesSince Dr. Yunus assumed office on August 8, 2024, following the collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s government amid mass protests, at least 266 journalists have been charged with murder or attempted murder. Of them, 13 remain behind bars.Media and legal experts say these cases often lack credibility, and instead reflect an alarming trend of criminalizing dissenting voices.At a press freedom event on May 4 in Dhaka, Mahfuz Anam, President of the Editors’ Council and Editor of The Daily Star, stated: “This blanket targeting of journalists is a massive blow to press freedom. It’s terrifying… If someone is guilty, charge them properly. But what’s happening now is a disgrace.”Fired for Asking QuestionsAt the same event, Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, Editor of Manabzamin, revealed that three journalists were dismissed from their jobs simply for asking questions during a press conference: “In a country where asking questions can cost your job, we are observing World Press Freedom Day. It’s a mockery.”Culture of Fear, Mob Threats Replace SurveillanceAccording to Akhtar Hossain, General Secretary of a Dhaka Journalists’ Union faction, press suppression has shifted tactics—from secret intelligence calls to open mob intimidation: “Now it’s not DGFI phone calls—it’s mob threats. Accreditation cards are being revoked, journalists removed from press clubs, or losing jobs for asking critical questions.”Journalists Behind Bars: Names and ConditionsThe 13 incarcerated journalists include: Shyamal Dutta, former General Secretary of the National Press Club Mozammel Haque Babu, ex-CEO of Ekattor TV Shakil Ahmed, former News Editor Farzana Rupa, anchor/reporterTheir families told Deutsche Welle (DW) that they are being held under questionable circumstances, often in poor health and psychological distress: Babu, a cancer patient, missed key post-surgery screenings. Rupa was held for weeks in a condemned cell alongside hardened criminals. Ahmed’s daughter missed critical A2-level exams due to security fears. Entire families are being doxxed, intimidated, and financially destabilized—bank accounts frozen, addresses leaked online.On June 11, Rupa was briefly released on parole to attend her mother’s funeral—an emotional moment that reignited public concern over the detentions.Legal Gridlock and Politicized CourtsVeteran human rights lawyer Z.I. Khan Panna, representing multiple journalists, said: “We’ve filed bail petitions for the cases we know. But new charges emerge each time. This isn’t justice—it’s persecution under the guise of legality.”He noted that colonial-era laws are still used to suppress dissent, and that the police are not operating independently.Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua added: “Judges are being pressured. Some are even sent on leave without reason. Even after bail is granted by higher courts, prison authorities delay release. This is a clear breakdown of the rule of law.”Government Denies ResponsibilityWhen asked by DW about the 266 cases, Fayez Ahmed, the Chief Advisor’s Senior Assistant Press Secretary, claimed: “Not a single case was filed by the government. These were filed by families of those killed in the July uprising.”He added that the government had “no influence over bail”, and that the Ministry of Information had already consulted with the Ministry of Law to address the issue.
