Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and Human Rights Watch (HRW), have called on Bangladesh’s interim government to actively protect freedoms of expression and opinion. This plea comes in response to a series of violent incidents targeting journalists and human rights defenders, urging Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus to deviate from previously repressive practices during this politically turbulent time.
February saw a significant rise in violence against journalists in Bangladesh. Highlighted incidents include an attack on a journalist investigating medical negligence and the assault on four journalists by armed individuals. Additionally, reports emerged of police officers beating journalists covering a protest in Dhaka (CPJ Report). These attacks, combined with violence against religious minorities, have raised alarm about the administration’s commitment to human rights.
The caretaker government took office in January 2025 after widespread protests led to the resignation of the Awami League government. The protests were driven by accusations of election manipulation and repression of dissent. The interim leadership has promised reforms, including replacing the contested Digital Security Act (DSA), criticized for suppressing dissent. However, the proposed Cyber Protection Ordinance 2025 has faced criticism for retaining similar measures.
Bangladesh’s commitment to international human rights standards, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, mandates the protection of free expression—a principle seen as being challenged by recent government actions. The Rabat Plan of Action outlines that any restriction on expression should be lawful, necessary, and proportionate, criteria which Bangladesh’s current legal framework reportedly fails to meet.
The human rights groups stress the need for transparent investigations into attacks on journalists and advocates, ensuring legal protections for free speech, and consequent reforms. For further developments on this ongoing situation, please refer to the report on the JURIST website.