Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an international non-profit and non-governmental organisation headquartered in Paris, which focuses on safeguarding the right to freedom of information, has voiced deep concern over the increasing violence against journalists in Bangladesh, warning of a surge in brutal assaults, including beatings with batons and hammers, as well as attacks on newsrooms.
In a report published on 14 February, the international organisation dedicated to press freedom stated that since early February, journalists have faced an alarming rise in physical assaults while reporting, with incidents of newsroom invasions also being documented.
RSF identified police officers and political activists as the primary perpetrators and urged authorities to ensure justice for the victims and safeguard media professionals.
Cécile Mercier, RSF’s South Asia desk chief, noted that while hopes had been raised for an improved media environment following the interim government’s assumption of power in August 2024, the security of journalists remains precarious.
“In recent days, a spate of attacks on journalists points to an unsettling rise in violence against the media. Reporters are being assaulted while covering events, physically punished for their writing, and protestors are storming newsrooms,” Mercier stated.
Citing several cases, the RSF report highlighted instances where journalists were attacked for their coverage and even forced to remove published reports.
It also detailed police obstruction and politically motivated assaults.
According the RSF, one such incident occurred on 5 February, when approximately 20 supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) attacked ATN News journalist Javed Akhtar at the Supreme Court premises. When NTV’s Hasan Javed and Deepto TV’s Azizul Islam Pannu attempted to intervene, they too were assaulted. The journalists had been covering a court verdict at the time.
A day later, protesters targeted Mohammad Omar Faruq of Independent24 TV, Syed Mainul Ahsan Maruf of Ekattor TV, and other journalists while they were reporting on the vandalism of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s residence and memorial museum on Road 32 in Dhanmondi, Dhaka.
The RSF report noted that police refrained from intervening.
On 9 February, six journalists were reportedly assaulted by police. Those attacked included Kawser Ahmed Ripon of The Report Live, Asif-uz Zaman and Muhammad Mahadi of Kaler Kantho, Azhar Rakib of Bangladesh Pratidin, Mohammad Radwan of Jago News, and Shimul Khan of Breaking News.
According to the victims, despite displaying their press credentials, they were beaten with batons, punched, and kicked, the RSF said.
Outside Dhaka, journalists have also faced severe violence, RSF said.
In Shariatpur on 3 February, Sohag Khan, a correspondent for Samakal, was brutally attacked with hammers and knives by a group led by the brother of a clinic owner in retaliation for reporting on medical negligence.
When three other journalists—Bidhan Majumder Oni of News24 TV, Nayan Das of Bangla TV, and Shafiul Islam Akash of Desh TV—attempted to assist him, they too were attacked.
Condemning the incidents as unacceptable, RSF has called for swift legal action against the perpetrators and urged authorities to take immediate steps to protect media professionals in Bangladesh.
