The United States has stated that four senior journalists considered to be “pro-previous government” were arrested in genocide and crimes against humanity cases, and that investigations are ongoing against at least 32 journalist, according to the 2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices on Tuesday.
The report says that although the situation of the media under the interim government improved somewhat after the July 2024 mass uprising, some journalists have alleged unofficial pressure.
Following the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League governemnt last year in August, Farzana Rupa, Shakil Ahmed, Mozammel Babu, and Shyamal Dutta were arrested, whose names appear in a case filed in August.
Quoting independent journalists and media, the report mentions that during the “previous Sheikh Hasina government,” the intelligence agency exerted influence on the media by withholding government advertisements and pressuring private companies not to advertise with certain publications if they did not abide.
If a publication covered opposition party activities or criticised the government, it would be punished, a situation that has alleviated since the interim government took over, though allegations of pressure remain.
The report states that during the “previous government,” police, intelligence agencies, and members of the ruling party’s student organisation attacked, harassed, and intimidated journalists.
In particular, journalists were targeted under the Digital Security Act, which human rights activists described as a tool of intimidation.
Quoting data from the Law and Arbitration Centre, the report said that between January and August, in 115 incidents, 388 journalists were subjected to attacks and harassment, and during the student movement in July–August, five journalists were shot.
Human rights organisation Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) stated that between January and June, two journalists were killed and 128 injured in 120 incidents of attacks and harassment.
The report further mentioned that in March, Shafiuzzaman Rana, a journalist from the newspaper Desh Rupantor in Pabna, was sentenced to six months in prison by a mobile court while collecting information about the government, and was acquitted in June.
In January 2023, 191 websites were shut down on allegations of publishing “anti-state news,” most of which were reopened after the change of government.