Irene Khan criticised the interim government’s failure to rein in violence and punish offenders, saying this has normalised such attacks and contributed to a pervasive sense that those responsible will evade consequences.

A United Nations special rapporteur has issued a stark warning that impunity is driving the surge in mob violence against journalists and media outlets in Bangladesh – deepening concerns over freedom of expression and the safety of independent media as the country prepares for national elections.

Irene Khan, the UN’s special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, condemned a series of targeted attacks on news organisations and cultural institutions that unfolded in recent days following the death of a prominent youth activist. She urged the Bangladeshi government to hold perpetrators accountable and address the root causes that embolden violent mobs.

Mob Attacks After Mass Unrest

The latest unrest erupted after the announced death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a key figure in Bangladesh’s 2024 pro-democracy student movement, who succumbed to gunshot wounds inflicted by unknown assailants – sparking nationwide demonstrations. As protests intensified, organised mobs vandalised the Dhaka offices of two of the country’s leading English-language newspapers, The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, and torched parts of the Chhayanaut cultural centre.

Khan denounced these attacks as not isolated incidents but predictable outcomes of a sustained environment of impunity. “The weaponisation of public anger against journalists and artists is dangerous at any time, and especially now as the country prepares for elections,” she said, warning of chilling effects on media freedom and minority voices.

Eyewitness accounts from the attacks paint a harrowing picture. Journalists were trapped on rooftops to escape smoke and flames as flames engulfed newsroom floors, and some media workers reported physical assault as they tried to protect colleagues and property. International news agencies have echoed concerns from local press associations about the unprecedented scale of these assaults on press institutions.

Impunity and Polarisation

Khan criticised the interim government’s failure to rein in violence and punish offenders, saying this has normalised such attacks and contributed to a pervasive sense that those responsible will evade consequences. “The mob attacks did not emerge in a vacuum but are the consequences of the failure of the interim government to address impunity and uphold media and artistic freedom,” she said.

Her remarks come amid a broader climate of tension in Bangladesh, where the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus following the 2024 ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina faces the challenge of stabilising the country ahead of elections scheduled for February 2026. Analysts say prolonged political polarisation has intensified mistrust between factions, contributing to a deterioration in public order.

Human rights advocates have also pointed to a wider pattern of violence and weak law enforcement that predates the recent media attacks. Reports from rights groups and political commentators have highlighted numerous instances in the past year where mobs engaged in “revenge violence” or acted on unverified rumours with little fear of prosecution.

In an opinion column published this week, commentators warned that unless the justice system acts decisively, the cycle of mob justice and retaliatory attacks will continue to undermine the rule of law and strengthen extremist narratives on both sides.

Chilling Effect on Press Freedom

Journalists and media rights organisations are sounding alarm about the long-term impact of the recent violence. “This is not just an attack on buildings and equipment – it is an assault on the very foundations of democratic discourse,” said a representative of the Editors’ Council, echoing concerns expressed by international partners.

The special rapporteur’s statement also noted that since August 2024, hundreds of journalists have been arrested on “politically motivated, dubious charges,” with many held for prolonged periods – further narrowing the space for independent reporting in a crucial electoral period.

Khan called on authorities to ensure transparent investigations into the killing of Hadi and the mob attacks, to protect civil society actors, and to safeguard the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. “If the interim government is to live up to its promise to deliver safe and fair elections,” she said, “it must uphold the rights of journalists, human rights defenders, civil society leaders, political candidates, women and minorities to exercise their fundamental rights without fear of reprisals.”

International human rights organisations have urged Dhaka to adopt urgent measures to curb hate speech, bolster protections for journalists, and prosecute individuals involved in mob violence. Failure to act, experts warn, could further erode public confidence in the state’s ability to protect its citizens and uphold democratic norms.

The UN expert said that as Bangladesh navigates this tumultuous period, the world’s eyes remain fixed on how its leaders respond – not only to recent violence but to the deeper challenge of ending impunity and reinforcing democratic freedoms.