Press Freedom in Peril: Groups Plead with Bangladesh Leader for Action
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A united front of human rights organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, has appealed directly to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman of Bangladesh to champion press freedom and human rights in the face of escalating threats.
Their comprehensive letter insists on liberating jailed journalists, reassessing cyber law cases involving the Digital Security Act and Cyber Security Act, and fostering a secure media landscape.
It critiques interim government ordinances under Yunus for undermining expression freedoms, documenting mob assaults, intimidations, and legal harassments targeting journalists, creatives, and intellectuals.
‘Governments bear the duty to defend expression via law and shield people from violence or misuse,’ the text declares.
Calls extend to halting arbitrary monitoring, censorship, and internet disruptions, plus adopting international-caliber Media Reform Commission advice.
The organizations demand rigorous inquiries into December 2025 violence against outlets like Prothom Alo and The Daily Star under the interim setup, proposing an empowered National Human Rights Commission for oversight.
Arbitrary incarcerations during that time fueled ongoing free speech dangers, per the letter. Rising vigilante attacks erode rule of law, threaten minorities, and encroach on women’s liberties via religious factions.
Persistent security force abuses, such as Chittagong tortures, demand redress. The plea culminates in an invitation to build a transformative legacy via institutional reforms and robust accountability.
