In a chilling escalation, Bangladesh’s Yunus-led interim authority stands accused of deploying draconian anti-terror laws to hound journalists across the country. Detailed reports expose how this tactic has led to the arrest of hundreds, many enduring prolonged pretrial detention amid absurd accusations.
Data from a New Delhi-based rights group indicates that by late 2025, 640 media professionals suffered targeting via lawsuits, asset freezes, and assaults. The government’s arrest permissions represent a nadir in press relations, transforming routine reporting into prosecutable offenses.
Prominent cases underscore the peril. Journalist Anis Almgir was seized on December 14 over social media posts questioning policy decisions, charged under terror statutes while still detained. Monjurul Alam Panna met a parallel ordeal on August 28 for participating in a public constitutional forum, a right enshrined in international law.
Despite these incidents, official spokespersons maintain no actions stem from mere critique, claiming unfettered writing freedom. Critics dismiss this as disingenuous, highlighting ‘lawfare’—a subtler censorship via judicial and enforcement machinery ostensibly designed to uphold media rights.
The offending statute permits warrantless extended holds, extended grillings in custody, and perpetual imprisonment. Its vague clauses encompass deeds fostering ‘insecurity’ or hindering official duties, ensnaring even mild dissent.
Newsrooms buzz with apprehension. An anonymous Dhaka news head revealed a pervasive dread, with self-imposed muzzling becoming the norm for self-preservation. The crisis intensified last December as enraged crowds razed headquarters of leading dailies The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, accusing them of allegiance to India and ousted leader Sheikh Hasina.
As Bangladesh navigates post-Hasina uncertainties, this media squeeze threatens democratic gains. Urgent calls grow for legal overhauls and releases, warning that unchecked power grabs could plunge the nation into deeper instability.
