After August 5, more than about 1,000 journalists across the country have been dismissed from their jobs. Private TV channels and newspapers have been taken over. Renowned and promising journalists at various levels of these media outlets have been fired.
Murder and other cases have been filed against 327 journalists. The house of the editor of Asian Age has been burned to ashes. Over different times, 31 journalists have been arrested across the country. In four phases, the press accreditation cards of 168 journalists have been cancelled. Ninety-two journalists have been expelled from or had their membership suspended at the National Press Club and other press clubs nationwide. Forty-seven journalists are being harassed under the pretext of seeking their bank account information. More than a hundred journalists have been banned from foreign travel. Many have had their bank accounts frozen. In the July-August movement and afterwards, 8 journalists have been murdered.
These are the calculable and known facts. But it is impossible to calculate how many have been, and continue to be, subjected to social and family harassment. In a previous article, I mentioned that during the Awami League era, only a handful of journalists enjoyed the government’s favor and privileges. But after August 5, it was seen that practically everyone was labelled as Awami League “agents” and dismissed from their jobs. The question is: who is filling the void of these dismissed journalists?
Here, I feel it is necessary to mention the names of a few sacked journalists. This will help readers understand whether alternative journalists have been prepared in the country to replace them.
Experienced and skilled editors have been fired from various media outlets. Job losses or leaving journalism is quite a normal occurrence. However, what has happened after August 5 is no longer normal—it has become an abnormal phenomenon. Those with many years of editorial and managerial experience have been replaced by uneducated, unskilled, inexperienced, and dishonest journalists. As a result, the standard of journalism in Bangladesh is continuously and rapidly declining. Among daily newspapers: Saiful Alam of Jugantor, Alomgir Hossain of Samakal, Abul Kalam Azad (MD of BSS), Enamul Haque Chowdhury of Daily Sun, Mustafiz Shafi of Protidiner Bangladesh, Kamlesh Rai of Samayer Alo, Mostafa Mamun of Desh Rupantor, and Arun Kumar Dey, Executive Editor of Jaijaidin can be mentioned.
Among private TV channels: Ahmed Zobayer of Somoy TV, Zayedul Ahsan Pintu, Pronob Saha and Noim Tarik of DBC, Shakil Ahmed, Farzana Rupa and Bayezid Milky of Ekattor TV, Ashish Saikat of Independent TV, Rahul Raha of News24, Prabhash Amin of ATN News, J I Mamun of ATN Bangla, Ashoke Chowdhury, Saiful Islam and Sanchita Sharma of Boishakhi TV, Manash Ghosh and Belal Hossain of Asian TV, Rashed Chowdhury of Ekushey TV, Nazrul Kabir of Bangla TV, Deep Azad of Nagorik TV, Munni Saha and Sukanto Gupta Alok of Ektakar Khabar, Jewel Mazhar of Banglanews24, and Rahman Mustafiz of Sarabangla are notable. These people have been removed, fired, and many have been subjected to various types of harassment, including accusations of murder in multiple cases. Many of them have made immense sacrifices and tireless efforts for the progress of mass media in Bangladesh. Yet today, they have become marginalized in Bangladesh—an example that has already been globally recognized and condemned as a disgraceful and shameful event for free and independent journalism.
It goes without saying that newspapers like Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, The New Age, Tribune, Jamuna TV, Bangla Vision TV, Ekhon TV, Channel I, NTV, etc., have never been much affected, not before, not even now. Is this the result of pleasing everyone, or simply professionalism? It is hard to say! There is no shortage of controversy about them either! Yet always, they remain untouchable. What is the mystery?
The media is called the fifth pillar of the state, built by skilled, ethical, and experienced journalists. Yet after August 5, we saw the mouths of the media and journalists silenced, their pens stopped, and their hands and feet tied. Many of them could have played effective roles in strengthening democracy. Here are some names: Farid Hossain, former AP bureau chief; Mojammel Hossain Manju, former editor of Samakal and Sokal-er Khobor; prominent journalist Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul; Syed Ishtiaq Reza, chief editor of Dhaka Journal; J I Mamun of ATN Bangla; Zayedul Ahsan Pintu and Pronob Saha of DBC are among them. This list could be made longer. Those who have seen their talk-show discussions know they have always criticized injustice. Yes, on one issue they were never neutral: the Liberation War, Bangabandhu, Bangladesh, secularism, and acceptance of the truth. Searching YouTube provides countless evidence. They have criticized the BNP, just as they have grilled the Awami League. They have posed logical questions on all matters. Yet in today’s Bangladesh, they are banned. Their voices have been silenced. They are jobless, unable to write anywhere, unable to speak. Many have cases of murder filed against them, frozen bank accounts, and are suffering from social harassment, etc.
I don’t know if they would agree, but I firmly believe that if Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s government had chosen the path of progress, the path of democracy, accepted the truth regarding the Liberation War and Bangabandhu, moved towards good governance, justice, and building a corruption-free Bangladesh, I am sure these people could have contributed to the country’s advancement through constructive criticism. But Dr. Yunus has started moving from the light into darkness. And the results are as expected.
Now you tell me: who speaks on talk shows in place of these people? Jadu-Madhu, Ram, Shyam, cows and donkeys. Other than Mahbub Kamal and Masud Kamal, do you watch or listen to any other talk shows? At every turn of freedom of speech, Dr. Yunus’s government is hammering nails, while claiming there is a flood of freedom of speech in the country.
A promising cohort of journalists has been pushed toward premature death. They could have given the nation and the people positive views about the media and good news. Here are some names: Noim Tarik, Chief News Editor at DBC TV—whose books are used as textbooks in various universities of the country, who tore up a government bank appointment letter to join journalism, and who was recognized as highly skilled in all branches of media, has also been sent into deep freeze by the interim government.
Selim Omrao Khan a reputed VOA journalists and author forced by Islamic extremist not to write against them. AP Bangladesh chief Julhas also kidding himself from the false murder case.He was badly attacked by radical groups.
Rashed Chowdhury, Head of News at Ekushey TV, who has achieved fame at home and abroad in journalism, and is highly respected for writing news in both Bangla and English—such a talented journalist has also been sent home by the government. Rahman Mustafiz of Gazi TV and Sarabangla, Manash Ghosh of Asian TV, and Nazrul Kabir of Bangla TV also deserve mention. These are people who dreamed throughout their lives and youth of practicing free thought, freedom of expression, and the flow of information—and joined journalism to realize those dreams. But alas, now it is only the season for heartache and sorrow in Bangladesh, dressed in the guise of Yunus!
In television journalism, a group of bright young journalists have been fired and kept locked in darkness. Their places have been filled with semi-educated and ignorant party activists, turning viewers away from television toward YouTube.
Final Words:
We need international jounlists should visit Bangladesh and SAVE the journalists in BANGLADESH.
IN FOCUS – IFJ to launch South Asia Press Freedom Report 2024-25: In its annual commemoration of World Press Freedom Day, the IFJ, on behalf of the South Asia Media Solidarity Network (SAMSN), launches its 23rd annual South Asia Press Freedom Report (SAPFR), titled Frontline Democracy: Media Amid Political Churn. Produced with support from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Norsk Journalistlag (NJ), European Commission (EC), and National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the report breaks down the complexities and challenges of an industry that is endeavouring to find level footing and steady ground in democratic spaces riven by political challenges and massive economic and civil disruption. Documented from May 1, 2024, to April 30, 2025, the report showcases how the ongoing collapse of revenue streams and the fact that too many media houses remain compromised and over reliant on revenue from government advertising, means that too many journalists also remain unpaid while still working. With critical elections occurring in India and Sri Lanka, and a violent transition of power in Bangladesh arising out of the student-led protests against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, this period was characterised by breaches of the state apparatus against independent journalists and freedom of expression.
