Prolonged detention of journalists raises press freedom concerns
Lawyers representing the detained journalists argue that most of the cases filed against them are false, fabricated, and politically motivated
Highlights:
- Journalists detained after Awami League government fell August 2024
- Lawyers claim cases false, fabricated, politically motivated
- Journalist couple denied bail over thirty times
- Dozens arrested under murder, terrorism, corruption charges
- Rights groups warn press freedom and justice undermined
- Prosecutors cite serious allegations, ongoing investigations for bail denials
Grave concerns are mounting over the continued detention of several journalists since the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024, with repeated court refusals to grant bail intensifying debate over press freedom and access to justice in Bangladesh.
Lawyers representing the detained journalists argue that most of the cases filed against them are false, fabricated, and politically motivated.
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Besides, many of the accused have been listed merely as "suspected" individuals in FIRs, while others have been named with what they describe as a clear intent to harass.
Expressing deep concern, media rights organisations have called the cases "false and harassing" and urged authorities to withdraw those and ensure an environment in which journalists can work freely.
Arrest of journalist couple
On 21 August 2024, journalist couple Shakil Ahmed, former head of news at Ekattor TV, and Farzana Rupa, former chief of reporters and news presenter of the same organisation, were detained at Dhaka airport. They were later shown arrested in a murder case filed with the Uttara East police station over the death of a private job holder, Md Fazlul Karim, during the July uprising.
Initially put on a four-day remand, the couple was subsequently shown arrested in seven more cases, including those over murder and attempted murder.
They have also been implicated in a complaint filed with the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), alleging incitement related to a meeting with ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Despite filing for bail more than 30 times, their petitions have been rejected each time.
The couple's lawyer, Morshed Hossain Shaheen, said there are no specific allegations against them, adding that in most cases they have been listed as suspected accused.
"They are entitled to bail under the law. We hope they will receive justice," he hoped.
Wider arrests, charges
Alongside the journalist couple, more than a dozen journalists were arrested in connection with the July uprising and face charges including murder, attempted murder, and cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.
On 17 September 2024, Mozammel Haque Babu, editor-in-chief and managing director of Ekattor TV, was arrested in the Mymensingh border area and was shown arrested in multiple cases filed with several police stations of the capital, including murder and extortion charges. Since then, he has remained in custody.
On the same day, Shyamal Dutta, editor of Bhorer Kagoj, was also detained in the same district. He faces charges, including murder, and is now in custody.
On 28 August 2025, 16 individuals, including journalist Monjurul Alam Panna, were detained from a programme at the Dhaka Reporters Unity. They were sent to jail under the Anti-Terrorism Act. On 10 November, the High Court granted bail to Panna.
On 17 August last year, MyTV Chairman Nasir Uddin Sathi was arrested in the Gulshan area and was shown arrested in a murder case filed with the Jatrabari police station. Later, he was implicated in several cases and is now in jail.
On 14 December last year, detectives detained journalist Anis Alamgir from a gym in Dhanmondi. Later, he was shown arrested in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act with the Uttara West police station and remanded. Another case filed by the ACC alleging illicit wealth amassment followed.
On March 1, a Dhaka court set 8 March to hear a bail prayer for him in a case filed by the anti-graft body.
Amnesty International's Rehab Mahamoor, said in a statement, "Anis Alamgir's arrest continues an alarming trend of individuals being targeted for being perceived to support activities of the now-banned Awami League. Rather than misusing anti-terror legislation to silence people expressing their views and opinions, the interim government and authorities should instead be facilitating freedom of expression and association, including in the lead up to elections."
On 7 December, former president of the National Press Club Shawkat Mahmud was arrested in Malibagh of Dhaka. After a five-day remand in a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act filed with the Ramna police station, he was sent to jail and remains detained.
Legal community raises alarm
Supreme Court lawyer Md Nizam Uddin alleged that vested interests are deliberately keeping journalists imprisoned. "It is not believable that journalists would go out to commit murder," he said.
"They [journalists] are being silenced for speaking against powerful groups. This is contrary to the Constitution and the law," he said.
Nizam argued that courts have the authority to grant bail to suspected accused who are not explicitly named in FIRs. "Yet bail is being denied. This undermines justice."
Anis Alamgir's lawyer, Taslima Jahan Poppy, described bail as having become "a political issue."
She claimed that the murder charges under Section 302 of the Penal Code do not apply to her client or other journalists. "If the elements of Section 302 are not met, they are legally entitled to bail," she said, alleging that due process is not being followed.
Press freedom under strain
Since 5 August 2024, several journalists across the country have faced what editors and civil society groups describe as false murder cases and harassment suits.
Many remain in jail, while others are required to appear in court regularly, disrupting their professional lives and hindering media operations.
In a statement on 25 February, the Editors' Council expressed grave concern over the filing of "false cases" against journalists.
Earlier on 22 February, 63 prominent lawyers, human rights activists, academics, and members of civil society voiced alarm over what they call indiscriminate detentions and flawed judicial processes involving journalists.
Meanwhile, 52 people, including Hasina and 32 senior journalists, over allegations of incitement linked to a 3 August meeting, were sued in several cases filed with the ICT.
The named accused include former press secretary to prime minister Nayeemul Islam Khan; former information adviser to prime minister Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury; former National Press Club president Farida Yasmin and secretary Shyamal Dutta; Ekattor TV CEO and chief editor Mozammel Haque Babu; television anchor Nabonita Chowdhury; AB News 24 editor Subhash Singh Roy; Somoy TV managing director Ahmed Zobayer and former news chief Tushar Abdullah; DBC News CEO Saiful Alam, former Bangladesh Pratidin editor Naem Nizam, and former Samakal editor Abed Khan.
What prosecution says
Omar Faruq Faruqi, public prosecutor of the Dhaka metropolitan session judge court, argues that the allegations brought against them are serious and that the courts are denying bail in the interest of ongoing investigations.
He said that even if the journalists did not directly participate in criminal acts, they were in various ways aligned with or supportive of the ousted administration during the July uprising.
The Editors' Council's call
In a statement on 25 February, the Editors' Council called on the government to immediately withdraw what it described as false and harassing cases filed against journalists across the country from 5 August 2024.
Signed by Nurul Kabir, president of the council, and Dewan Hanif Mahmud, its general secretary, the statement read that if there are specific and evidence-based allegations against any journalist, those should be addressed strictly through the existing laws and transparent judicial processes. However, filing harassment-driven and motivated cases is unacceptable.
As a result of these cases, many journalists remain in prison, while others are being compelled to appear in court regularly. This has severely disrupted journalists' normal professional activities and undermined the independent environment of the media, said the council.
"The Editors' Council had repeatedly urged the interim government to withdraw false and politically motivated cases and to take effective measures to stop the harassment of journalists," they said.
"Although the government assured that the cases would be reviewed and that appropriate steps would be taken to withdraw false and harassing cases, there has not been the expected progress in this regard," the council said.
The council made a strong appeal to the newly elected government to treat the matter with utmost importance and to take prompt steps to withdraw false cases filed against journalists.
