Despite these, the government promised to support freedom of the press,[8] while criticizing the media for its role during the mass uprising against Sheikh Hasina.[9]
Chief Adviser of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus.
Background
On 5 August 2024, at around 2:25 p.m., Sheikh Hasina resigned from her position as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and fled the country on a helicopter with her sister, Sheikh Rehana, to India, arriving in Delhi via Agartala.
On 8 August 2024, Muhammad Yunus took power as the head of the interim government and was sworn into office.[10][11] Sheikh Hasina's government had suppressed the press during its 15 year rule.[12][13] There were expectation that press freedom in Bangladesh would improve under the new government.[14]
History
After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, the office of the president and general secretary of the Jatiya Press Club was vandalised and forcefully occupied after Abdul Hannan Masud of the quota movement demanded their resignation and banning Awami League-supporting journalists from the profession.[15][16] The office of Shyamal Dutta of the Jatiya Press Club, National Press Club of Bangladesh, was vandalised, and he was prevented from leaving Bangladesh.[17] On 12 August 2024, A section of Jatiya Press Club's managing committee revoked the memberships of its president, Farida Yasmin, general secretary, Shyamal Dutta and managing committee member, Shahnaj Siddiqui Soma.[18]
In November 2024, editor of the New Age, Nurul Kabir, was harassed twice at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.[22] The International Federation of Journalists and Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum condemned the harassment.[22] Protestors attacked the offices of independent newspapers The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, accusing them of promoting anti-Islamic and pro-India agendas.[23] Reporters Without Borders condemned the assaults and urged the interim government to ensure press freedom.[23]
In December, convener of the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement Hasnat Abdullah led a group of students and barged into the office of City Group which owns Somoy Television.[24] He had alleged the journalists were engaging in propaganda and twisting his words.[24] After the incident five journalist of the television channel were sacked without any explanation. Muhammad Yunus' press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, stated that the government was not involved in the matter, saying that if any individual took action, the responsibility rested with that person.[24]
The advisor in charge of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Md Mahfuj Alam, announced a revenue of all media organizations owned by people affiliated with the Awami League and then take "necessary actions".[25] He also announced that the government would form a task force to "improve quality" of newspapers in Bangladesh.[25] The Media Reform Commission head Kamal Ahmed and other members attended the meeting.[25]
A legal team filed a complaint with the UN over the continued detention of Bangladeshi journalists Farzana Rupa and Shakil Ahmed, calling the charges politically motivated and arbitrary.[26]
Security forces attacked journalist Milan Tripura in Khagrachari District and forced him to delete his footage.[27] The Committee to Protect Journalists called for an investigation into the incident.[27]
Around 140 journalists have been accused in cases filed over the death of protestors against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.[35] In one case, the name of journalist Mohammad Nesar Uddin was added to the list of accused while the plaintiff did not even know the journalist.[35] Critics have argued the case were not based on evidence.[36]
Closure of media organizations
Bhorer Kagoj began publications on 15 February 1992 led by founding editor Nayeemul Islam Khan.[37][38] In January 2025, the owners stopped the print edition of Bhorer Kagoj following protests by employees some of whom were linked to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.[39] After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina led Awami League government and the detention of editor Shyamal Dutta some journalists backed by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party had been trying to establish control over the newspaper.[39][40] Shyamal Dutta, former secretary general of the National Press Club, has been in jail since September 2024.[41] The Interim government delisted the newspaper in April 2025.[42]
On 5 August 2024, Somoy TV abruptly ceased transmissions temporarily shortly after the resignation of Sheikh Hasina after being attacked and vandalized by mobs.[43][44][45] The channel later went back on the air.[46] On 10 August 2024, it was reported that the managing director and chief executive of Somoy, Ahmed Jobaer, was relieved from his position and replaced by Shampa Rahman as the former. This decision was taken after a meeting of Somoy's Board of Directors. Jobaer later clarified that the license of Somoy was in his name and, according to regulations, he must be in charge of the main operations. He also stated that he would go to court to challenge the decision. Somoy later denied sacking Jobaer, calling the board meeting "illegal" on its web portal.[47][48][49][50] Justices Naima HaiderSashanka Shekhar Sarkar of the High Court Division ordered Somoy to suspend broadcasts for a week following a writ petition filed by Shampa Rahman, the managing director of the television channel.[51][52] Somoy went off the air on television at 23:59 (BST) on 19 August 2024, although it continued its operations online.[53][54] Somoy resumed television broadcasts under new management on 26 August at 23:59 (BST).[55][56]
In August 2025, Daily Janakantha became the subject of a dispute over its editorial control, following allegations by editor and publisher Shamima A Khan that a rival group of staff, backed by retired army officer and former Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) Major Afizur Rahman, had staged a takeover of the newspaper's office.[57] Critics also linked him to businessman Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat and former state minister Mohammad Ali Arafat, as well as to prior attempts to influence journalist union elections.[57] Rahman denied the allegations, asserting that his actions were in line with official directives and not personal initiatives.
On 29 April, Deepto TV temporarily suspended its news broadcasting, citing internal reforms.[58] The decision followed public controversy involving a reporter from the channel, Mizanur Rahman, who faced backlash for a question posed to Cultural Adviser Mustafa Sarwar Farooqi regarding the number of 1,400 July martyrs.[58] It also terminated two journalists.[59] Government officials claimed that the state did not impose the suspension.[58] ATN Bangla also took action against a report from the same conference for questioning Faooqi.[58]
The International Crimes Tribunal Investigation agency has accused Shyamal Dutta, editor of the Bhorer Kagoj,[60] of inciting murder, genocide, and torture during the 2024 Bangladesh Quota Reform Movement.[61][62] In addition, a case was filed against him in connection with the murder of Mohammad Fazlu, which occurred in Dhaka's Bhashantek area during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.[63][64] On March 6, 2025, Shyamal Dutta was detained near the Dhobaura border in Mymensingh while allegedly attempting to cross into India.[65][66] On September 23, 2025, a Dhaka court rejected his bail application and ordered him to be sent to jail. Prior to the rejection of his bail, Dutta had been placed on a seven-day remand for interrogation related to the murder case.[67][68][69]
Nayeemul Islam Khan is a Bangladeshi journalist and former press secretary to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.[75] On March 3, 2025, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) ordered the freezing of the personal and institutional bank accounts of Nayeemul Islam Khan, his wife Nasima Khan Monty, and their children. The directive was issued to all banks and financial institutions in Bangladesh.[76][77] On the same day, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) obtained a court order to seize the tax files of Khan and his wife.[78] Khan was named as an accused in a case filed over the death of Sajjad Hossain, a student who was shot during the anti-discrimination movement in Rangpur. The case also named former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and journalist Subhash Singha Roy, among others.[79][80] Additionally, another case was filed at Jatrabari Police Station in connection with the death of Nayeem Howlader, a student who was shot during anti-quota protests. The case accused Hasina and seven journalists, including Khan.[81]
Julfikar Ali Manik is a Bangladeshi journalist and writer, who has been accused in a murder case filed over the death of a protestor along with 164 others including seven other journalists.[91]
Munni Saha
Sumi Khan is a Bangladeshi investigative journalist known for her reporting on radical fact-check minority persecution, and political affairs in Bangladesh.[92][93][94] She was forced into exile in February 2025 due to increasing threats from radical Islamist groups.[95] Previously, she had also faced intimidation from the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, which she alleges has significant influence over the Muhammad Yunus led interim government and media in Bangladesh.[95] She has criticized arrest of journalists Shyamal Dutta and Mozammel Haque Babu, as well as the revocation of press accreditations for over 160 journalists by the new regime.[95] She alleges that the government has empowered the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami to take control of the media in Bangladesh.[95]
Munni Saha is a Bangladeshi journalist and television host.[96][97] From 2016 to 2023, she was the editor-in-chief of ATN News,[98] a broadcast news TV channel in Bangladesh.[99] Saha was charged with crimes against humanity, along with several other journalists.[100] The charges were linked to a murder case filed for alleged crimes against humanity committed during the uprising.[101] In December 2024, she was verbally attacked by a mob, which accused her of attempting to make Bangladesh a part of India.[102]
On August 21, 2024, Farzana Rupa, former principal correspondent of Ekattor TV.[103][104] was detained at Dhaka Shahjalal International Airport in connection with a murder case filed at Uttara East Police Station.[105] On March 5, 2025, during a court appearance, she stated, "I am a journalist. One murder case is enough to hang me," and expressed the desire to represent herself for bail, citing a lack of legal representation.[106] Rupa was sent to jail by Magistrate along with Farzana Shakila and Sumu Chowdhury after rejecting their bail petition.[107] Her legal team filed a complaint with the United Nations.[108] Her husband and journalist, Shakil Ahmed, was detained with her.[109] On 8 August 2024, Shakil Ahmed was dismissed from his position at Ekattor TV.[109] A statement from Mustafa Azad, on behalf of the channel’s management, confirmed their dismissal.[109]
Farida Yasmin is the first female president of the National Press Club. She was forcefully removed from the Jatiya Press Club, and her membership was revoked.Press secretary at Chief Adviser's Office Shafiqul Alam
Reactions
Workers Party of Bangladesh politician, Sharif Shamshir, said the persecutions took place, "not because they committed any real crime but because they were considered to be allies of the Hasina government and their fate depends on how the parties close to the new system think about them in the end.".[2] Dhaka Reporters Unity condemned the filing of murder charge against 25 journalists, including President of the Dhaka Reporters Unity Syed Shukkur Ali Shuvo on 11 September 2024.[112]
President of Overseas Correspondents Association Bangladesh, Nazrul Islam Mithu, said “The government urges journalists to criticize them. But they are not ensuring conditions conducive to healthy journalism. An atmosphere of fear is prevailing,”.[113] Journalist Robaet Ferdous said, “People thought the situation would change after Aug. 5. But the situation has not changed. Now, the students have replaced the government agencies deciding who would go to TV talk shows or not,” and “Theoretically, an atmosphere of free journalism exists, but not in practice,”.[113] Mahfuz Anam, editor of The Daily Star, wrote " Bangladesh must be the country with the highest number of murder suspects masquerading as journalists in the whole world".[114]
Reporters Without Borders, Transparency International Bangladesh, and Editors’ Council condemned the revocation of press credentials of 167 journalists by the Press Information Department.[115] Reporters Without Borders called for the withdrawal of unfounded murder charges against journalists and end of judicial harassment.[100]Committee to Protect Journalists said, “CPJ is alarmed by the apparently baseless criminal cases lodged against Bangladeshi journalists in retaliation for their work, which is seen as supportive of the recently ousted government,”.[116]Article 19 called on the Interim government to protect freedom of expression and stated the Cyber Protection Ordinance 2025, made to replace the Cyber Security Act, did not adhere to international human rights standards.[117]
UNESCO-International Programme for the Development of Communication and News Network started a program for safety of journalists working in Dhaka.[118] It also asked the government to ensure the safety of journalists.[118] According to William Horsley, Executive Committee member of the Commonwealth Journalists Association, despite Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus's claims of media freedom under Bangladesh’s interim government, journalists continue to face arrests, threats, and censorship, with critics calling it a retaliatory purge.[119]
Asia program coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists Beh Lih Yi, said, "We are disturbed by the apparently baseless detentions and criminal cases against journalists, and incidents of media groups' offices being targeted and vandalized. These assaults on press freedom must end. They create a chilling effect on the media,".[120]
Government response
Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary of the Interim government, said the government will not hinder press freedom.[121] The government established the Media Reform Commission which provided recommendation to the government on improving the media in Bangladesh.[122] Chief advisor of the interim government Muhammad Yunus acknowledged that the murder charges against over 140 journalists were hastily filed under outdated laws and pledged to halt such actions while forming a review committee.[123] He also stated that revoked press accreditation would restrict access to government buildings but not prevent journalists from working.[123] The government founded a CA Press Wing Facts to fact-check news but critics questioned the role of the government as the arbitrator of truth.[124]
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