Journalism in Bangladesh has taken a severe hit under the interim government led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, with freedom of the press seemingly reduced to a hollow concept. The abrupt shutdown of the online news portal Daily Bangladesh has shocked the nation’s media landscape. The outlet was penalized for exposing corruption among key leaders of the student movement that facilitated Yunus’s rise to power.
On January 8, Daily Bangladesh published an investigative report titled “Coordination Leaders’ Influence Peddling: How a Rafi Alone Made 320 Million Taka.” The report detailed allegations of large-scale corruption by Khan Talat Mahmud Rafi, a prominent figure among the coordinators, alongside others such as Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, who now hold advisory positions in Yunus’s government. The report revealed how these individuals amassed millions through influence-peddling and abuse of power.
The publication of the article triggered outrage among the coordinators and their allies, who quickly pressured the government to suppress the story. Within 30 minutes of its release, the government ordered the removal of the report, forcing Daily Bangladesh to issue a public apology. However, this did not satisfy the coordinators, who demanded further action against the news outlet. In response, under directives reportedly issued by Army Chief Wakar Uz Zaman, the government shut down the outlet indefinitely.
This incident has left journalists across the country alarmed. The shutdown of Daily Bangladesh, a platform previously controlled by the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), sends a chilling message that exposing corruption or criticizing those in power will not be tolerated.
The coordinators, who were instrumental in the ousting of the previous Awami League government, are accused of using mob tactics to suppress dissent. They have reportedly influenced key government decisions, including the removal of officials they deem unfavorable. The backlash against Daily Bangladesh highlights how the government appears to prioritize appeasing these coordinators over safeguarding press freedom or investigating serious allegations.
The situation has drawn sharp criticism from the public. Many have questioned why the government failed to investigate the corruption allegations before silencing the outlet. Concerns have also been raised about the journalists who are now unemployed due to the shutdown. Critics argue that the incident exemplifies how press freedom has become a casualty under Yunus’s administration, as any attempt to uncover the truth is met with severe consequences.
The closure of Daily Bangladesh is not an isolated event. Previously, journalists from other prominent media outlets faced threats and dismissals for reporting on controversial issues involving Yunus’s supporters. This latest crackdown further underscores the deteriorating state of journalism in Bangladesh, where truth and accountability appear to have been sacrificed to protect those in power.
While the government continues to promote itself as a defender of free speech, actions such as these paint a very different picture. The future of journalism in Bangladesh under Yunus’s government remains uncertain, with journalists and citizens alike fearing that the space for critical reporting may continue to shrink. The silencing of Daily Bangladesh has left the nation grappling with the question: how long can truth survive in such an oppressive environment?