British human rights organisation ARTICLE 19 has raised concerns about Bangladesh’s ongoing crisis regarding the exercise of the right to freedom of expression, particularly as the country prepares for the February 2026 elections.
The organisation made this statement during the Item 4 General Debate at the 60th Session of the UN Human Rights Council.
According to ARTICLE 19’s Global Expression Report, while some reforms following the July 2024 uprising and the ouster of prime minister Sheikh Hasina are seen as positive, there are still significant threats to freedom of expression.
The repeal of the Cybersecurity Law was welcomed, but the introduction of new draft laws could severely restrict freedom of expression, privacy, and related rights.
These new laws include provisions that criminalise protected speech, facilitate overbroad content takedowns, enable intrusive surveillance, and leave transparency and due process gaps.
The report also highlighted the persistent impunity for violations against journalists, particularly in light of the unsolved murders of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi more than 13 years ago.
Despite repeated calls from UN experts for accountability, the investigation into their deaths remains inadequate.
The murders of journalists Asaduzzaman Tuhin and Khandaker Shah Alam in 2025 further illustrate the “appalling and pervasive” climate of impunity for human rights violations against media workers in Bangladesh.
Women journalists, in particular, face uniquely gendered risks, including workplace harassment, online rape threats, and physical attacks. These challenges are compounded for those who face multiple forms of discrimination.
ARTICLE 19 has called on the Bangladeshi government to amend draft legislation to fully comply with international human rights standards, particularly regarding the right to freedom of expression.
The organisation also urged the interim government to ensure accountability for all attacks on journalists through impartial, prompt, thorough, and effective investigations, with special attention to gendered and intersectional issues.
