BANGLADESH stepping up 16 notches in the World Press Freedom Index 2025, prepared by Reporters Without Borders, is comforting, but the country has ways to go and issues to address to further improve on press freedom. The index, made public on May 2, ranks Bangladesh the 149th among 180 countries. Bangladesh ranked the 165th in 2024, the 163rd in 2023 and the 162nd in 2022. What is, however, worrying is the that harassment of journalists has continued even after the August 2024 overthrow of the authoritarian Awami League regime, which earned wide criticism at home and abroad for targeting journalists and media outlets. Rights group Ain O Salish Kendra reports 398 incidents of attack on and harassment of journalists in August 2024鈥揗arch 2025, with 82 only in February鈥揗arch. This shows that attacks on and harassment of journalists by non-state, if not state actors, impunity enjoyed by attackers and a delay in justice dispensation have continued to contribute to the distressing state of press freedom. Moreover, trials of the killings of and attacks on journalists having been pending for months and, even, years have also eroded press freedom.
Challenges of journalists in outlying districts are more pronounced as they continue to face obstacles and harassment at the hands of people with political and moneyed clout. What is also disturbing is the false charges against journalists post July uprising. Reporters Without Borders says that about 140 journalists, viewed as aligned with Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 government, faced 鈥榖aseless accusations of killing protesters.鈥� This is highly problematic on more than one count. There were journalists who aligned themselves with the fallen regime and exploited their position and engaged in crimes, mostly financial. But the way they, along with academics and artistes, have been named and, in a case or two, detained in murder cases is unacceptable. Such charges constitute not only an affront to press freedom but also undermine the grave crimes that the Awami League regime did 鈥� killing several hundred students and people, that is. In the latest such case, a number of journalists were accused in an attempted murder case during the student-led July uprising. Blanket murder cases against journalists, academics and artistes, along with Awami League leaders, will eventually help them to go scot-free from crimes they committed. This will also lead to a public assumption that the authorities are negligent in maintaining proper legal procedures to ensure justice.
The government, therefore, owes people an explanation for its failure to stop blanket murder cases. The authorities should also address the issues, many highlighted by the media reforms commission, to ensure press freedom.