6 journos killed, over 1,000 harassed

A total of 1,034 journalists have faced violence and harassment in Bangladesh over the past 20 months, according to a report published by the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) on World Press Freedom Day.

The report, released on Sunday (3 May), said that 523 separate incidents of attacks, intimidation, and harassment against journalists were recorded during the period. It was prepared based on data from 16 media outlets and HRSS’s own monitoring sources.

According to the findings, journalists were affected in multiple ways, including killings, injuries, assaults, and threats. The report noted that at least six journalists were killed, 402 were injured, 94 were assaulted, and 105 were threatened during the period covered.

HRSS expressed concern over Bangladesh’s ranking of 152nd out of 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index, calling it alarming for press freedom and safety of journalists.

The report further stated that under the interim government, 862 journalists were targeted in 434 incidents. During this time, 49 cases were filed in connection with attacks on journalists, involving 222 accused persons, of whom 33 were arrested.

It also added that in the period after the BNP formed the government about two and a half months ago, 89 incidents were reported involving 172 journalists. In cases linked to six of these incidents, 13 individuals were named as accused and at least five were arrested.

HRSS called for stronger protection mechanisms for journalists and urgent steps to ensure press freedom and accountability in such cases.