A group of human rights organizations on Friday urged Bangladesh’s interim government to take decisive action to safeguard the freedoms of expression and opinion amid increasing attacks on journalists, authors and human rights defenders.
The rights groups, which included Amnesty International, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Human Rights Watch (HRW), called on Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus‘ administration to break from past repressive practices and protect individuals’ freedoms as the country navigates a volatile political transition.
The organizations emphasized that in February alone, Bangladesh witnessed a surge in violent attacks against journalists. On February 3, a journalist was brutally assaulted with hammers and knives for reporting on medical negligence. The same day, four journalists were targeted by armed assailants. Days later, police officers reportedly beat five journalists covering a protest in Dhaka. These incidents, combined with attacks on religious minorities following the resignation of the previous government, have raised alarms about the new administration’s commitment to protecting civil liberties.
The interim government, led by a non-partisan caretaker administration, took charge in early January 2025 following months of widespread protests against the former ruling party, the Awami League, under Sheikh Hasina. The protests, fueled by allegations of election manipulation, corruption, and authoritarian governance, escalated into violent clashes. The opposition, particularly the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies, accused the Hasina government of suppressing dissent through mass arrests, enforced disappearances, and internet blackouts.
Under Hasina’s rule, Bangladesh faced increasing condemnation from international watchdogs for its restrictive policies on press freedom and civil liberties. Organizations like Reporters Without Borders ranked Bangladesh among the worst countries for press freedom, citing intimidation tactics such as arbitrary arrests and physical violence against journalists. The US State Department also documented cases of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings linked to security forces, further deteriorating Bangladesh’s human rights record.
Bangladesh has long struggled with restrictions on free expression, particularly under the Digital Security Act (DSA), which critics claim has been used to suppress dissent. The previous administration under Sheikh Hasina frequently weaponized laws against journalists, opposition leaders, and activists. The interim government has pledged to repeal the DSA, yet its proposed replacement, the Cyber Protection Ordinance 2025, has drawn criticism for retaining similar draconian provisions, including criminalizing speech deemed to hurt religious sentiment.
According to Article 39 of the Bangladesh Constitution, freedom of thought and conscience are guaranteed, though subject to broad exceptions. Moreover, Bangladesh is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which upholds free expression under Article 19. Critics have noted that recent legal and extrajudicial actions suggest continued suppression, despite such international obligations.
The rule of law necessitates the protection of individual rights, including free speech. The Rabat Plan of Action underscores that any restrictions on expression must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate, criteria that rights defenders claim Bangladesh’s current legal framework fails to meet. Rights defenders maintain that the interim government, facing the immense task of stabilizing the nation and preparing for elections, must take immediate steps to uphold its human rights commitments. This includes conducting transparent investigations into attacks on journalists, ensuring legal protections for free speech, and reforming laws that facilitate censorship.
