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Media Suppression Deepens in Bangladesh: Bank Accounts of 21 More Journalists Sought

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), the financial intelligence arm of the central bank, has escalated its scrutiny of media professionals. On Sunday, January 5, the BFIU requested bank account details for 21 additional journalists from various outlets. This follows a similar request made on December 30 for the accounts of 12 senior journalists.

The list of these 21 journalists includes Saiful Alam, editor of Daily Jugantor; Pranab Saha, news editor of DBC News; Hasan Zahid Tushar, former Deputy Press Secretary to the ex-Prime Minister; M Shamsur Rahman, editor and CEO of Independent TV; Mamun Abdullah, news editor of Independent TV; and Animesh Kar, special correspondent at Independent TV. Also included are Md. Ruhul Amin Russel, managing editor of Bangladesh Pratidin; Mahmud Hasan, associate editor of Bangladesh Pratidin; and Zafar Ahmed, senior reporter of Daily Khola Kagoj (currently at Banglanews).

Other names on the list are M.G. Kibria Chowdhury, editor of Daily National Economy; Deepak Chowdhury, chief reporter of Amader Somoy Online and Amader Arthonioti; Akhil Kumar Poddar, head of input at Ekushey TV; Jhumur Bari, journalist at Ekattor TV; Ziadur Rahman, editor of Ekushey Sangbad Online; Angur Nahar Monty, special correspondent at Daily Kalbela; and Nasir Uddin Sathi, chairman of My TV. The list also includes Mahmud Al Faisal, head of news at SA TV; Rashed Kanchan, executive director of SA TV; Shahnaz Siddiqui, senior reporter at BSS; Rashed Chowdhury, journalist at Ekushey TV; and Rama Prasad, journalist at Samakal.

Request for 12 Senior Journalists’ Accounts Earlier On December 30, the BFIU had previously sought account details of 12 senior journalists. The list included Subhash Chandra Badal, former managing director of the Journalist Welfare Trust; Arifur Rahman Dolon, editor of Dhaka Times; Nurul Islam Hasib, special correspondent at Bangladesh Post; and Dip Azad, chief news editor at Nagarik TV. It also included former BSS chief news editor Abul Kalam Azad, deputy chief news editor Md. Omar Faruq, former PIB director-general Zafar Wazed, and Hosne Ara Momta Islam Soma, special correspondent at Channel i.

Additional names in this earlier list were Obaidul Kabir Molla, associate editor of Daily Janakantha; Abed Khan, editor of Daily Jagaran; freelance journalist Ajay Das Gupta; and Syed Ishtiaq Reza, editor-in-chief of Global TV.

It is noteworthy that many of these journalists have experienced changes in their workplaces or positions following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5.

Media suppress continues in Younus regime:

Under the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, there are ongoing concerns about press freedom in Bangladesh. Despite initial optimism following the resignation of Sheikh Hasina in 2024, instances of suppression of journalists have continued, raising doubts about the commitment of the new regime to protect freedom of expression.

Key issues under the Yunus regime include:

  1. Cancellation of Press Accreditations: The government revoked the accreditations of 167 journalists, a move widely condemned by rights groups as a blow to press freedom.
  2. Retaliatory Violence: Reports indicate that journalists perceived as loyal to the previous administration have faced harassment and violence, including attacks on media offices.
  3. Censorship and Surveillance: The new administration has been accused of continuing restrictive practices, such as surveillance of media outlets and journalists.
  4. The arrest and harassment of journalists in Bangladesh remain a serious concern, particularly under the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Act. The ICT Act, originally designed to prosecute war criminals, is often alle
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