CPJ urges PM to break cycle of media repression with 10 recommendations

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to fulfil his electoral commitments to ensure press freedom and break what it described as a cycle of repression against journalists in Bangladesh.

The international media rights organisation made the call after the current government completed its first 100 days in office.

In a report published on its website on Tuesday, CPJ said Bangladesh has seen three governments within two years.

It said the long-ruling government of Sheikh Hasina was removed from power in August 2024, followed by an interim administration led by Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, before the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led government assumed office after the February 2026 election with Tarique Rahman becoming prime minister.

According to CPJ, journalists faced detention, prosecution, surveillance, attacks and smear campaigns during each political transition, often because of their alleged affiliation with previous governments.

The organisation also referred to a recent media report, claiming police are reviewing journalists’ past records and creating profiles across the country.

CPJ Asia-Pacific Programme Coordinator Kunal Majumder said successive governments in Bangladesh have treated media freedom as an opportunity to target journalists perceived to be linked to previous administrations.

He said Tarique Rahman’s government promised change but “meaningful progress” remained limited even after 100 days.

CPJ suggested that the government could begin by releasing jailed journalists, withdrawing politically motivated cases, ending political retaliation against media workers, protecting journalists from mob violence, curbing smear campaigns and reforming laws that enable repression.

The organisation proposed 10 measures which it said are necessary to strengthen press freedom in Bangladesh.

Among the recommendations, CPJ called for an end to politically motivated arrests and cases against journalists, reviewing mass FIRs and preventing obstacles to bail in journalism-related cases.

The report cited cases involving journalists including Farzana Rupa, Shakil Ahmed, Mozammel Babu and Shyamal Dutta, who have remained detained since August or September 2024.

CPJ also urged authorities not to use the International Crimes Tribunal against journalists by linking journalistic work to genocide or crimes against humanity.

The organisation called for transparent investigations into killings, attacks, surveillance and harassment of journalists regardless of which government was in power at the time.

It expressed concern over violence against journalists and media organisations, noting attacks and arson at newspaper offices.

According to CPJ, at least 10 incidents of violence or harassment against journalists covering political events were documented in 2025, with most allegedly involving members or supporters of BNP and its student wing.

The organisation also recommended reforms to cyber laws, arguing that existing and previous digital legislation had become tools to suppress media freedom.

It further urged the government to stop using laws such as the Anti-Terrorism Act, Special Powers Act and Official Secrets Act against journalists and to introduce legal protections for legitimate journalistic work.

CPJ also called for withdrawing proposed media commission ordinances, arguing they risk creating regulatory bodies that could be used to control media outlets.

Other recommendations included reforming surveillance laws, changing accreditation procedures, preventing harassment lawsuits and ending campaigns portraying journalists as “pro-India”, “anti-Islam”, “traitors” or agents of previous governments.

The organisation said the government should repeatedly and clearly state that independent journalism is a constitutional right and essential for democracy while ensuring accountability for those inciting violence against media workers through misinformation campaigns.