Journalists await bail as investigation stalls
Several journalists remain imprisoned for their alleged involvement in murder cases stemming from the July mass uprising, facing repeated rejections of their bail pleas. Others are in hiding due to these charges. Hopes for release have surfaced for journalists arrested during the tenure of the interim government, following the assumption of power by the BNP-led administration.
Among those detained were Shakil Ahmed, former news chief of Ekattor Television, and his wife, Farzana Rupa, a former chief reporter and presenter. They were apprehended on August 21, 2024, at the airport while attempting to travel abroad, according to Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch.
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Subsequently, they were implicated in a murder case related to the death of Fazlul Karim in the Uttara area during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. They also face charges in the Rubel murder case involving a garment worker in Adabor, a case that has kept them incarcerated for over 18 months without bail.
Last December, Shawkat Mahmud, former president of the National Press Club and Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and secretary-general of Janata Party Bangladesh, was arrested under the Anti-Terrorism Act and remains in custody. Janata Party Bangladesh emerged in April last year, with film actor Elias Kanchan as its chairman.
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My TV Chairman Md. Nasir Uddin was arrested in August last year in connection with a murder case filed during the Anti-Discrimination Movement. Following a five-day remand, a court ordered him to be sent to jail on charges of shooting a youth dead in the Jatrabari area of the capital.
The interim government asserted that these cases were initiated by ordinary citizens, not by the state. However, questions persist regarding the state’s accountability for the actions of law enforcement agencies in arrests, denial of bail, and prolonged detentions.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), a non-governmental anti-corruption organization, reported that 496 journalists faced harassment nationwide in the aftermath of the July uprising. Of these, 266 were implicated in murder or violence cases linked to the uprising. This data was released by TIB on August 4 last year.
In comments to Prothom Alo, Motiur Rahman Chowdhury, president of the Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) and editor-in-chief of the daily Manabzamin, stated, “If we speak of the rule of law, it is not appropriate to detain anyone without trial and deny them bail day after day. This matter should be resolved. We have conveyed the issue to the honorable Prime Minister on behalf of NOAB. We hope for a resolution soon.”
Journalist Shahnaz Sharmin was on duty outside the main gate of Bangabhaban from afternoon until 11 p.m. on August 5, 2024, the day the Awami League government fell following the July mass uprising. She provided live broadcasts from the location, which were visible on other television channels, with available evidence.
However, she was named as an accused in a murder case related to the shooting death of a youth in the Bhashantek area of Mirpur on the same afternoon, alongside numerous others. Shahnaz Sharmin, a senior journalist at Ekattor Television, described the charges against her in a statement to Prothom Alo as entirely false. She questioned how a person could be in two places simultaneously, emphasizing that the state bears the responsibility for addressing such discrepancies.
Sharmin’s case is not isolated. Journalists were broadly accused in various cases of murder and violence during the interim government’s period. Murder cases were filed against journalists and editors from different newspapers and private television channels, leading to the arrest of several individuals. Even after a considerable time, most journalists continue to bear the burden of these cases, and many of those incarcerated are still denied bail.
Following the assumption of power by the new elected government, senior journalist Anis Alamgir received bail on March 14. He was taken for questioning from a gymnasium in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, on the night of December 14, 2025. Initially arrested under the Anti-Terrorism Act, he was later charged with accumulating undisclosed wealth.
Additionally, Sheikh Muhammad Jamal Hossain, former organizing secretary of Dhaka Reporters Unity, was arrested in October 2024. He has since been released on bail. He is also a member of the Awami Volunteers League, an organization whose activities were banned.
Manjurul Alam (Panna), a journalist, was arrested in August last year under the Anti-Terrorism Act while attending a roundtable discussion on Bangladesh’s liberation war and constitution at the Dhaka Reporters Unity. He was released on bail approximately three months later.
Furthermore, the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) found no substance to allegations against 28 journalists in Chittagong. These developments have instilled a degree of optimism among others in similar situations. Those involved hope that courts will make positive decisions following swift and fair investigations into cases where allegations lack foundation. They also anticipate the release of arrested journalists on bail.
Many journalists acknowledge that they are not above scrutiny. If anyone feels harmed by their writings or statements, legal recourse is available. Provisions exist to take action under relevant laws if an individual is accused of corruption or illicitly benefiting from state resources. However, indiscriminately naming individuals in serious charges like murder casts doubt on the very concept of justice.
In response, Assistant Inspector General (Media & Public Relations) of Police Headquarters, A H M Shahadat Hossain, told Prothom Alo that cases related to the July uprising are sensitive. He stated that the agencies investigating these cases are scrutinizing each one. If an individual is found not guilty during the investigation, the investigating officer recommends their exoneration. Conversely, if evidence of involvement is found, charges are filed in accordance with the law.
The Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), a human rights organization, reports that between April 2025 and March of the current year, 389 journalists in Bangladesh experienced torture or harassment in the 12 months following the July uprising. Besides law enforcement and miscreants, leaders and activists of the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party (NCP), Jatiya Party, and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement also subjected journalists to varying degrees of torture or harassment. Four journalists’ bodies were recovered during this period. Nineteen cases were filed against journalists during this time.
Against this backdrop, World Press Freedom Day is being observed today, Sunday. The theme for this year’s day is “Promoting freedom of the press for a peaceful future: Human rights, development, and security.”
The media landscape in Bangladesh faced significant pressure during the previous Awami League government’s tenure. Following the fall of that government in the July mass uprising, expectations were high for the media to operate with greater independence.
Although the interim government did not exert direct pressure, the media experienced instances of mob violence from various groups during its time. For the entire 18 months of the interim government’s rule, the media operated under a pervasive sense of “mob fear.”
During the interim government’s rule, press accreditation cards for 167 journalists were revoked in three separate instances. Following a fire incident at the Secretariat in December 2024, access for journalists was restricted citing security reasons. Even with press accreditation cards, entry to the Secretariat was denied. Later, following criticism, a list of a determined number of journalists was compiled.
A new policy was subsequently introduced. However, the policy had not been implemented in four and a half months. After further criticism, card issuance recommenced. Yet, even with these cards, direct entry into the Secretariat remained restricted.
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