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WorldPosted at: May 1 2025 8:15PM


Bangladesh Press Freedom: Three journalists get fired for asking tough questions about July Uprising

Dhaka, May 1 (UNI) In a show of Bangladesh’s deteriorating press freedom, at least three journalists were fired in a span of 24 hours after they asked tough questions to the Mohd Yunus-led Interim Government's Cultural Affairs Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki about the July Uprising of 2024.
The Bangladesh Awami League, wrote on its X (formerly Twitter): “After Yunus’ cultural advisor scolded several journalists from private television channels simply because they asked questions about the July-August violence, senior journalists were terminated from their outlets within less than 24 hours -- a manifestation of Yunus' sponsored fascism.
“The public vilification of these journalists by the advisor, then total silence of Yunus’ press wing and the speedy termination of these reporters ending their professional lives serve as a chilling reminder of the Yunus-sponsored repression on journalists to evade accountability, control the flow of information at the cost of destroying freedom of expression.”
They added: “This brazen act of forcing media outlet authorities to terminate reporters merely for asking questions deemed uncomfortable by the regime proves Yunus’ earlier claim to uphold press freedom ring hollow.”
The terminated journalists include Rahman Mizan from Deepto TV, Fazle Rabbi from ATN Bangla and Bashar from Channel I.
According to the Awami League, they raised questions like: “’How can unity be possible in the wake of divisive politics?”’, “’How can one be condemned as murderer without conviction in court?”’, and their demand for "substantive evidence against the government's claim of 1,400 martyred?”’
The party alleged that the Yunus government unleashed some “so-called student activists against these professional journalists” who went on to threaten their media houses with violence unless these journalists were not immediately sacked.
A threat was apparently launched on Facebook, which said: “March to Deepto TV, Channel I and ATN Bangla will be announced unless these journalists are terminated”. The veiled threat appeared on a Facebook page titled July Revolutionary Alliance, run by pro @ChiefAdviserGoB supporters.”
Under the Yunus government’s tenure, Bangladesh has witnessed a significant deterioration in press freedom, with the country now ranking just above Afghanistan in the Indian subcontinent, ranking 165 out of 180.
In a contradiction of its own statements on protecting the country from fascism, the CA despite his promises to uphold press freedom has stifled press freedom through increased government interference, leading to widespread self-censorship among journalists.
In addition, there have been violent attacks against many independent journalists by the government, and outlets critical of the administration, who have often been charged with punitive measures.

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