Jonokontho Takeover Attempt has triggered a dramatic and chaotic situation at the newspaper’s headquarters in Eskaton, Dhaka. A group of recently recruited staff have filed a lawsuit against the ownership, accusing them of creating a government-backed mob to forcibly take over the building and remove the current editorial leadership.
On Saturday night, during a protest in front of the Jonokontho building, a man named Mir Jasim introduced himself as a member of a “new editorial board” and declared, “The current editor is now unwanted. She will only remain as the publisher. Her two sons are also declared unwelcome at Jonokontho.”
Earlier that day, management had dismissed several staff members. In response, those employees filed a case at Hatirjheel Police Station, accusing the owners of misconduct. Shamima E. Khan, the newspaper’s editor and publisher, labeled the incident a “conspiracy” and claimed a group is using a mob to seize Jonokontho illegally under government protection.
She specifically blamed Major (Retd.) Afizur Rahman, Chief Operating Officer of the Globe Jonokontho Shilpo Paribar; Zainal Abedin Shishir, Joint Convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and a strategic advisor to the paper; as well as several journalists affiliated with the BNP-Jamaat alliance. Both Afizur Rahman and Zainal Abedin Shishir have denied the allegations.
Shishir responded, “These takeover accusations are nothing but talking points from the Awami League and Indian intelligence circles. We’re not yet in control of ownership or publishing. We merely formed a board with the consent of current journalists.”
As of Sunday morning, the online version of Jonokontho no longer displays the editor and publisher names as before. Instead, it reads: “Published and printed by the editorial board under Globe Printers Ltd. and Jonokontho Ltd.”
Founded in 1993 by Atikullah Khan Masud, Jonokontho initially gained popularity for its strong pro-Liberation War stance, especially through its notable series “Shei Razakar.” Over time, the newspaper became known for its alignment with the Awami League.
However, following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, the paper has reportedly come under the influence of Jamaat-e-Islami and NCP-affiliated figures. Sources claim that a wider restructuring has taken place across Dhaka’s media landscape post-regime change — with ownership and staffing shifts occurring in several outlets, some allegedly involving mob intervention.
Jonokontho has long upheld the values of the Liberation War. But the current Jonokontho Takeover Attempt raises serious concerns about the future of press freedom in Bangladesh as government-backed mobs allegedly move to seize control of major institutions.
