Reporters Without Borders (RSF) criticized Bangladesh for its insufficient measures to protect journalists during elections. The comment came as Bangladesh hosted its 12th parliamentary election on January 7, a political event marred by reported violence and marked by a turnout of just 40 percent.
In a potent statement, RSF criticized the government’s disregard for violence against journalists, declaring that the situation has brought credibility into question. The organization urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her party to reconsider their tight hold on information access and offered recommendations for journalists to better safeguard themselves while working.
The guidelines issued to journalists include maintaining regular communication with family or trusted contacts about their location, employing safety equipment, and implementing security measures such as double authentication and password managers to better prepare for potential loss, theft, or seizure of devices.
In 2023, Bangladesh ranked 164 out of 180 on the Press Freedom Index, faring slightly worse than its rank the previous year. Three journalists were reportedly murdered in the same year, with several others facing violence due to their reporting against the government.
Just days before the elections, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) urged authorities to ensure the safety of journalists. Further highlighting the seriousness of the situation, the United Nations (UN) expressed its apprehension about the state of freedom of expression in Bangladesh.
The election period was marked by a series of violent incidents. Reports of mass arrests of opposition party leaders further cast a shadow over the democratic process. The main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, boycotted the election and urged voters to abstain to ‘restore democracy’.
The country’s current Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has been on the RSF’s list of 37 press freedom predators since 2021. Serving her fifth term, Hasina has been a prominent figure in Bangladesh’s political landscape for over 15 years. Her continued reign has sparked concerns over the country’s overall state of democracy.