Interim govt resorting to secrecy in formulation of every law: Iftekharuzzaman

The interim government is relying on secrecy in the drafting of nearly every law, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said today (9 December).

Speaking at a discussion titled "The Situation of Media in Post-Authoritarian Bangladesh" to mark International Anti-Corruption Day 2025, he warned that bureaucracy remains the single biggest obstacle to meaningful reform.

Iftekharuzzaman said, "I was involved in several ordinances passed during this government. I am not saying I was allowed to be involved; I was able to be involved. The immediate implementation proposals submitted by the ACC Reform Commission were not fully considered when the ordinance was drafted."

Reform in Bangladesh, he argued, can only advance as far as the bureaucracy permits, describing bureaucratic resistance as the central barrier to progress. "More than a hundred proposals were made for public administration reform. Only 18 received any attention, the first of which was cleaning toilets."

He said there was broad consensus on nearly all the recommendations made by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Reform Commission, yet "there is no progress on any of them". Until entrenched political and bureaucratic cultures are disrupted, he said, meaningful change will remain out of reach. The "our time" mentality among politicians, the belief that after 15 years out of power and it is now their turn, poses a serious threat to reform, he warned. "This mindset within both politics and bureaucracy puts the possibility of reform at risk."

Turning to media reform, Iftekharuzzaman said the government must ensure protection for the media as a "public good" if genuine change is to occur. The Media Commission's report, he noted, is "collecting dust", and almost none of the Media Reform Commission's recommendations have been implemented. "The media became one of the collaborators in the authoritarianism that took root in this country," he said. "Public trust has eroded; the media has lost credibility."

Recalling the aftermath of the July Uprising, he said that from the afternoon of 5 August 2024, "annexation, extortion, and case-mongering" intensified, and the media was also complicit. Authoritarianism, he said, grew gradually and peaked over the last 15 years. Although several reform commissions identified urgent areas requiring immediate action, "many reforms have not happened" during the tenure of the current government, he added.

Over 1,000 journalists targeted in 15 months after July Uprising

At least 1,073 journalists and media workers have faced violence, intimidation, legal action, or loss of livelihood in 476 separate incidents between 5 August 2024 and 1 November 2025, according to new research by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).

The findings paint a stark picture of the risks confronting the media. TIB documented 259 incidents in which journalists were physically attacked, while 99 journalists received threats across 89 separate cases. Another 70 faced harassment, 27 were detained, and the family members of 17 journalists were assaulted or had their homes vandalised. Six journalists were killed during the period under review.

The research also found that at least 189 journalists lost their jobs, through dismissal, forced resignation, or removal from duty, in just five separate incidents, revealing the scale of institutional pressure facing newsrooms.

TIB noted that despite Bangladesh climbing 16 places to rank 149th in the global press freedom index, "there is little room for optimism", as entrenched negative practices continue to jeopardise journalists' safety and independence.

Major shake-ups in media leadership

The report notes that, following 5 August 2024, abrupt leadership changes swept through major news organisations, many of them driven by political pressures. At least eight newspaper editors and 11 heads of TV news were removed or compelled to resign, while numerous senior newsroom roles were filled with individuals aligned with shifting political interests.

The Media Reform Commission documented leadership changes in 29 outlets, as well as a transfer of ownership at one online news portal. 

Despite the Commission's recommendation to establish an independent registration authority, the information ministry went on to approve two new television channels, Next TV and Live TV, through the existing system, both reportedly linked to leaders of the National Citizen Committee.

Several previously shuttered organisations, including Channel One and Amar Desh, have also resumed operations, while others, such as Dighonto TV and Star TV, are seeking approval to return or begin broadcasting. 

Bangladesh currently has 3,270 registered newspapers and periodicals; 50 licensed private TV channels, of which 34 are on air; 406 registered online news portals; and 19 private FM radio stations broadcasting. TIB's 12-point recommendations call for full implementation of the Media Reform Commission's proposals, including enacting a new law to safeguard journalists' rights and replacing the Press Council with an independent National Media Commission.