Pulack Ghatack
Freedom of the press and expression in Bangladesh has been severely restricted during the Yunus regime. Even the situation was less terrible under military rule.
The Yunus government removed 66 journalists’ press accreditation cards in two rounds based on partisan concerns. Just Yesterday, the administration cancelled the secretariat access cards of 118 more journalists. This latest wave of revocations includes leading journalists from major news outlets, including 22 editors or their equivalents. Nine are editors from smaller organizations or online platforms, while the remaining are active reporters.
CPJ urges Bangladesh’s interim leader Yunus to protect press freedom
Surprisingly, the Press accreditation of the Bangladesh bureau chief for the renowned United States news agency, the Associated Press (AP), was also revoked. Other significant persons affected include the president, previous president, and general secretary of the Dhaka Reporters Unity, as well as former and present leaders of the Dhaka Journalists’ Union and the general secretary of the OCAB, an association for foreign media journalists.
It remains to be seen how many journalists will lose their cards. Notably, no one from media outlets such as The Daily Star and The Daily Prothom Alo, frequently perceived as supportive of the current regime, has received comparable card cancellations. Similarly, journalists with ties to opposition groups such as Jamaat and the BNP have been spared. Indeed, this administration has no political or partisan goal nor offers any personal choices! However, reality reveals other outcomes. They seized control with “utopian hope.”
Cancelling the accreditation card for the secretariat undermines professional performance. There is something more important, and it is dangerous. More than 150 journalists in the country have been charged in the murder case, which carries the death penalty.
During the ‘Meticulously Designed’ July-August movement, student mobs vandalized news agencies’ cars while on duty, and they grabbed and beat up many journalists. Then, on August 5 and 6, multiple media outlets were set on fire in the name of a popular uprising. Many media houses were damaged, and unprecedented looting occurred. Following that, another class was provided on usurping the institution, the office, and the post.
Bangladesh has never had a worse record of journalism or journalist persecution except this regime. It didn’t happen under Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib’s regime, Zia’s regime, Ershad’s regime, Khaleda’s regime, Moinuddin-Fakhruddin’s caretaker period, or Hasina’s regime.
This time, two professions have been impacted the hardest: journalists and cops. The secretariat and courts have also been targeted, with clear partisanship. However, no one appears to be more at risk than those in journalism, regarded as the epicentre of democracy and expression.
Those who are not protesting the Yunus government’s torture, persecution, and repressive measures have not previously protested. During the Awami League period and the BNP-Jamaat and army-backed caretaker governments, we were among the few who spoke out against any attack on journalism. I’ve written critiques and stood in the streets. However, to gain an edge, many journalists are now using the term ‘fascist’ to frame their opponents.
In 1971, Al-Badr, inside the journalist community, introduced all potential intellectuals and journalists to the Pakistani army in preparation for the massacre. However, it is currently happening on a massive scale.
Previously, we were fighting against any attack on journalists and journalism, including the digital security law during the Awami regime, and are now being labelled brokers by some people. And they are brokering openly or secretly, either out of fear or in the expectation of receiving rewards.
Still, they don’t hesitate to assert such assertions even if their words and behaviour are biased. Seeing so many people’s characters is unpleasant. I always tried to be sincere and spoke my opinion. Many people, including those claiming to be “neutral,” reveal their personalities and political identities. I have never asserted to be “neutral.” However, they make such claims without hesitation, even though their words and deeds are biased. It feels like it could be more pleasant to see so many people’s personalities. I’ve always tried to be honest and say what I believe. “Do not believe what you say, and do not say what you believe,” I’m not sure how somebody with such a personality can be happy! Oh, man, be straightforward and honest. Honest individuals have courage and integrity and always speak out against repression.
Senior Journalist, former Joint Secretary General, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists