Journalists in Bangladesh are confronting severe risks while exposing extortion, terrorist activities, and corruption by influential figures. Their efforts to uncover the truth are met with constant obstacles, including life-threatening intimidation from criminals. In some cases, journalists are summoned by authorities when they publish reports exposing corruption by police or other government officials.

Non-compliance with these threats often leads to brutal consequences, including murder. The recent killing of journalist Asaduzzaman Tuhin in Gazipur on Thursday night—where he was repeatedly stabbed and his throat slit—has sparked widespread outrage across the country. Protests erupted in various parts of Bangladesh the following day.

496 Journalists Harassed in a Year: TIB Report
According to a Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) report, 496 journalists faced harassment between August 2024 and July 2025. The report, titled “One Year After the Fall of Authoritarian Regime: Expectations and Outcomes,” was presented at a press conference at TIB’s Dhanmondi office on August 4. Other non-governmental organizations’ reports indicate that 274 journalists were injured due to attacks and obstructions while performing their duties over a seven-month period. TIB’s report further notes that three journalists were killed during this time while carrying out their professional responsibilities. However, following the report’s release, the murder of Asaduzzaman Tuhin in Gazipur has raised the death toll to four.

TIB highlighted that media freedom remains elusive even under the interim government.

274 Attacks in Seven Months
Data from various organizations reveal that from January to July 2025, 274 attacks on journalists left 126 injured. Between August 9 and December of the previous year, 165 incidents resulted in 95 journalists being injured. Additionally, in March, a female journalist was gang-raped while collecting news in the capital. These findings were reported by the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) and Adhikar.

On Thursday night at around 8:30 PM, Asaduzzaman Tuhin, a staff reporter for Dainik Pratidiner Kagoj in Gazipur, was brutally murdered by assailants in the Chandna-Chowrasta area. Prior to his killing, Tuhin had conducted a live report on Facebook exposing extortion by local criminals. Tuhin, originally from Bhatipara village in Mymensingh’s Fulbaria upazila, leaves behind a grieving family. His elderly father, 80-year-old Md. Jamal, who is barely able to move, has been fainting repeatedly since learning of his son’s death. “What was my son’s crime? Bring my son back,” he pleaded.

The day before Tuhin’s murder, on Wednesday, journalist Anwar Hossain was brutally beaten and injured with bricks by assailants near Gazipur’s Sadar Metro Police Station. Despite his pleas for mercy, the attackers showed no restraint.

HRSS Report Details
According to HRSS, from January to June 2025, 20 journalists faced humiliation, 34 received threats, and 10 were arrested. During the same period, 92 journalists were implicated in 22 cases, with 12 arrested and 23 charged under the Cyber Security Act 2023. In July alone, at least 17 attacks resulted in 27 journalists facing harassment or assault, with 15 injured, five threatened, and five humiliated. Two journalists were also charged in two separate cases.

Adhikar’s report states that from August 9, 2024, to June 2025, 165 journalists faced attacks and harassment, with 95 injured, 32 humiliated, five assaulted, 22 threatened, and 11 charged in cases.

According to Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), 196 incidents of torture, oppression, lawsuits, and attacks on journalists occurred between January and June 2025. Among them, Moniruzzaman, a correspondent for Dainik Jayjaydin in Pabna’s Sujanagar, and Jahangir Mahmud, a correspondent for Dainik Kalbela in Rupganj, were attacked for their reporting on criminal activities. Mahmud was targeted with bricks, with the intent to kill.

Other Journalist Killings
Police and family sources report that on October 10, 2024, Tanjil Jahan Tamim, a broadcast officer for Deepto TV, was beaten to death by intruders at his home. On October 12, Swapna Kumar Bhadra, assistant president of Tarakanada Press Club in Mymensingh, was hacked to death outside his residence. On August 27, the body of journalist Rahnuma Sarah was recovered from Hatirjheel by police and locals.

Investigations reveal that journalists have been threatened by political leaders, municipal mayors, brick kiln owners, anonymous callers, union parishad and upazila chairmen, university and college students, and ward councilors. Journalists have also faced abductions, bomb attacks, and torture by criminals and, in some cases, members of law enforcement agencies.

Journalist Summoned by PBI Over Bribery Report
Likhon Raj, a correspondent for Bangla Tribune in Rupganj, was summoned by the Narayanganj Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) for questioning regarding an investigative report on bribery. A notice signed by PBI Narayanganj’s Police Superintendent Mustafa Kamal Rashed on August 4 stated that Raj must appear at the PBI office within two working days for a “fair and impartial investigation.” The notice, issued to verify the reliability of the report’s sources, was linked to a Bangla Tribune article published on August 3, which alleged that PBI Narayanganj’s Sub-Inspector Md. Hafizur Rahman demanded a 50,000-taka bribe from a case complainant. A related phone conversation went viral on Facebook on August 2, sparking nationwide criticism. Consequently, Hafizur was suspended by PBI headquarters on August 3, with the suspension announced to the media on August 4.

Additional Deputy Inspector General (Special Crime) Md. Ashiq Saeed from Police Headquarters stated, “We are doing our utmost to control crime. Whenever a criminal incident occurs, we investigate and take legal action. The investigation into the Gazipur journalist’s murder is ongoing, and those involved will be arrested and face justice.”

HRSS Condemns Tuhin’s Killing
HRSS Executive Director Ijazul Islam described Asaduzzaman Tuhin’s murder as a direct attack on media freedom, freedom of expression, and journalists’ safety.

NOAB Expresses Concern
The Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) expressed deep concern over media freedom and journalists’ safety on Thursday. In a statement signed by NOAB President AK Azad, the organization described TIB’s latest report on media freedom as “disheartening.” NOAB had hoped that the mass uprising would lead to a free, impartial, and democratic society with guaranteed rights to information, expression, and media freedom. Unfortunately, these expectations have not been met over the past year. NOAB called for an end to the culture of mobs threatening and intimidating media owners and emphasized that ensuring media safety and freedom would strengthen the foundation of a democratic state.