While some journalists now avoid critical reporting altogether, others have been replaced by those perceived as aligned with the interim government or the influential Students’ Movement against Discrimination, which spearheaded the protests.

Five months after the fall of the repressive Awami League government in Bangladesh, journalists are navigating a challenging landscape marked by fear and self-censorship, says a report by BenarNews. Despite an interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus promising freedom of the press, the reality remains far from ideal for many reporters, some of whom face reprisals for their past coverage of the Awami League, the report says.

In the aftermath of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government collapse on August 5, 2024, during massive student-led protests, some journalists have embraced the newfound freedom to report critically. Others, however, tread carefully, worried about facing accusations, false murder charges, job loss, or social media harassment.

“False murder cases were filed against a huge number of journalists after the downfall of the government,” said Z.E. Mamun, a former chief executive of the private TV station ATN Bangla, in an interview with BenarNews. Mamun himself is named in a murder case linked to a killing in Dhaka on the day Hasina fled to India.

The case was filed at the International Crimes Tribunal, which was originally established by the Awami League to try individuals accused of war crimes during the 1971 war of independence. Mamun believes the allegations are baseless but reflect the atmosphere of fear under the interim government.

Mamun alleges that journalists associated with the Awami League are being systematically silenced. “At least 140 journalists identified as being supporters of Hasina’s Awami League government face murder complaints filed by citizens,” he said. Adding to their woes, many have had their accreditation cards revoked, bank accounts frozen, and finances scrutinized.

Prevailing Climate of Fear

According to Sohel Haider Chowdhury, president of the Dhaka Union of Journalists, the fear is palpable across the media landscape. “Almost all media outlets have terminated or sidelined journalists branded as ‘enablers of fascist Hasina,’” Chowdhury told BenarNews.

While some journalists now avoid critical reporting altogether, others have been replaced by those perceived as aligned with the interim government or the influential Students’ Movement against Discrimination, which spearheaded the protests.

“There is no direct intervention from the government, but an atmosphere of fear has been created. Journalists are working under constant fear,” said Chowdhury, who himself faces four murder complaints related to anti-Hasina protests.

Chowdhury added that journalism trade offices, including his own, had been locked by the government, further curtailing journalists’ ability to work.

A Troubled Transition

The challenges of practicing independent journalism in Bangladesh predate the interim government. Observers note that restrictions on press freedom and government interference in media have been systemic problems.

“There was no atmosphere for good journalism during Hasina’s regime, and this has carried over under the interim government,” said Nazrul Islam Mithu, president of the Overseas Correspondents Association Bangladesh.

Mithu explained that the risks for journalists go beyond professional setbacks. “Anyone criticizing the government faces physical assault and harassment in public places. Their houses are attacked. But no action from the government to prevent such recurrence is visible,” he told BenarNews.

Shafiqul Alam, press secretary for the Yunus-led administration, rejected allegations of repression, maintaining that the government has taken steps to promote press freedom.

“The interim government has not slapped any repressive laws or passed administrative orders to muzzle the press as practiced by the Hasina government,” Alam told BenarNews. “Rather, we have decided to scrap the repressive Cyber Security Act and withdraw all cases related to freedom of the press filed under it.”

Alam emphasized that murder complaints against journalists were filed by individuals seeking justice for loved ones lost during the July and August protests. “The government cannot stop individuals from filing cases,” he said.

He also dismissed claims of government-led job losses for journalists. “No journalists have lost their jobs because of directives from the government,” he stated, adding that the administration has encouraged critical reporting.

“What else can we at the government do if journalists practice self-censorship?” Alam asked.

Theoretical Freedom, Practical Constraints

Not everyone agrees on the extent of press freedom under the current administration. M. Abdullah, a former president of the pro-Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami faction of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, dismissed allegations of government interference, attributing self-censorship to personal and professional vulnerabilities of some journalists.

“For instance, the financial statements of some journalists show unusual transactions of crores (millions) of Taka,” Abdullah told BenarNews, implying financial misconduct among certain reporters.

Meanwhile, Robaet Ferdous, a journalism professor at Dhaka University, argued that systemic issues persist. “People thought the situation would change after August 5. But the situation has not changed. Now, the students have replaced the government agencies in deciding who appears on TV talk shows,” Ferdous said.

He criticized the ongoing politicization of the media. “Political parties aspiring to get power have already started placing their favored journalists in key positions in media,” he noted.

While the interim government claims to champion press freedom, the reality for many Bangladeshi journalists is a precarious balancing act between self-preservation and professional duty. “Theoretically, an atmosphere of free journalism exists, but not in practice,” Ferdous observed.

The enduring climate of fear reflects a broader struggle for press freedom in a country where the media has long been a battleground for political power. For now, Bangladeshi journalists face a minefield of challenges as they navigate this turbulent transition.