By Staff Correspondent : In today’s Bangladesh, the fundamental right to freedom of speech exists only on paper. Journalists, once the voice of the people, are now targets of a sweeping crackdown—facing arrests, job losses, and even murder charges simply for doing their job or expressing a view.
Since August 5, the country has witnessed a disturbing pattern of systematic state-led repression against the media. According to credible reports, 296 journalists have been implicated in over 600 legal cases, the majority of which are murder charges—a chilling new development even in the context of press suppression.
Out of those arrested, only two have been granted bail, while the rest remain in custody or in hiding, unable to return to their jobs. Employers are taking advantage of their absence to terminate contracts, citing “unauthorized absence.”
Mass Terminations Across Newsrooms
The crackdown is not limited to legal harassment. At least 1,000 journalists and media workers have been fired or forced out of their jobs across the country.
Bangladesh Television (BTV) alone dismissed around 100 journalists and media staff.
Private TV channels followed suit: Nagarik TV (39), Ekattor TV (37), DBC News (15), Somoy TV (8)—all part of a growing purge.
Shockingly, BTV terminated all 64 of its district correspondents in one go, while multiple private media outlets have removed regional correspondents en masse.
Journalists Facing Criminal Charges Nationwide
Cases have been filed against journalists in nearly every division—from Cox’s Bazar and Khagrachari to Rajshahi, Bogura, and Cumilla.
Some journalists face multiple cases, including under the draconian ICT Act, effectively criminalizing investigative reporting and social media activity.
In places like Chattogram (30 journalists named) and Muradnagar, Cumilla (3 journalists, including a female reporter), the charges have escalated to a level previously unseen.
Additional Forms of State Repression
168 press accreditation cards revoked
83 journalists stripped of press club memberships
At least 16 journalists killed, many more attacked or injured
Over 50 media offices vandalized or attacked
Most major news organizations have been forcibly taken over by pro-government interests
A Profession in Peril
This is not merely censorship—it is an attempt to dismantle independent journalism altogether.
In the new Bangladesh, journalists are losing jobs not for misconduct, but for suspected ideological leanings.
Even a simple Facebook comment can lead to arrest, proving that digital expression is now a high-risk activity.
Investments in new media ventures have plummeted. Fear grips newsrooms. Editorial independence is a fantasy. And yet, no meaningful public debate on journalists’ safety is allowed to emerge—those who try are swiftly silenced.
Final Thought:
The evidence is clear: the right to report, question, or even speak is under direct attack. Bangladesh once banned newspapers—now, it seeks to own and control every voice. The cost of speaking truth is no longer just a lawsuit; it’s your freedom, your career, or even your life.
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