The Committee to Protect Journalists has called on Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to break what it described as the country’s “cycle of partisan persecution” of journalists and take concrete steps to safeguard press freedom. In a report released as the BNP-led government completed its first 100 days in office, the New York-based media rights organisation said successive governments in Bangladesh had used legal and administrative measures against journalists perceived to be aligned with previous regimes.
CPJ’s Asia-Pacific Programme Coordinator, Kunal Majumder, said the new government had promised change but that meaningful progress on media freedom remained limited. He urged authorities to release jailed journalists, drop politically motivated cases and protect media professionals from violence and intimidation.
The organisation outlined 10 recommendations to restore press freedom, including ending the use of criminal cases against journalists, halting the use of the International Crimes Tribunal in cases related to journalistic work, reforming cyber and anti-terrorism laws, and ensuring accountability for attacks on media personnel regardless of political affiliation.
CPJ also expressed concern over reported violence against journalists covering political events and alleged attacks on media organisations. It urged the government to conduct impartial investigations into such incidents and hold perpetrators accountable.
The rights group further called for reforms to media regulation, surveillance laws and the accreditation system, while urging authorities to stop smear campaigns targeting journalists as “pro-India”, “anti-Islam” or supporters of previous governments.
According to CPJ, protecting independent journalism and ensuring equal treatment of all media professionals, regardless of their perceived political affiliations, would be essential for strengthening democracy and restoring confidence in press freedom in Bangladesh.
