Assault and Lawsuits Against Journalists: A Grim Tale of Silencing the Press
Ziauddin Liton
In Bangladesh today, journalism is no longer confined to collecting facts or publishing news. It has evolved into a test of courage and sacrifice. The growing number of attacks, threats, and lawsuits faced by journalists is not only alarming but also poses a serious threat to the very foundation of democracy.
As a journalist myself, I have witnessed this grim reality up close. The sight of colleagues with bloodied faces and microphones in hand has become disturbingly common. Their only “crime” is speaking the truth.
According to data published by the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) in 2024, attacks on journalists have escalated dramatically. That year alone, 726 journalists were subjected to various forms of violence and harassment—10 were killed, 459 injured, 59 assaulted, 19 arrested, and 134 were sued. Since August 5 of that year, over a hundred more journalists have faced legal action. These incidents often spike during political movements, elections, or when investigating corruption. Journalists on the ground frequently become targets—some beaten by political activists, others wounded by police bullets. In today’s climate, carrying a camera or a pen often makes one a marked target.
Beyond physical violence lies another insidious weapon—lawsuits. The use of the Digital Security Act to suppress free expression is increasingly concerning. A single report, a Facebook post, or even just a headline can be grounds for legal harassment.
In 2024 alone, at least 25 journalists across the country faced cases under this law. I have personally seen veteran reporters, who have spent years serving the public interest, now waiting in courtrooms simply because they dared to report the truth.
In one case, a journalist was detained for 20 hours over a misinterpreted song lyric posted on social media, followed by a fabricated complaint filed by a hired plaintiff, resulting in jail time.
Mahfuz Anam, President of the Editors’ Council, recently revealed that 266 journalists in Bangladesh are currently facing criminal charges related to murder or violence—charges that undermine the principles of free journalism.
In any free society, a journalist's role is to ask questions, uncover facts, and serve the public interest. When the state itself attempts to blindfold the press, it becomes evident that democracy is under threat. In a particularly striking move, the government revoked press accreditation of 167 journalists toward the end of 2024. I see this as a form of undeclared censorship.
According to Reporters Without Borders, Bangladesh ranked 163rd out of 180 countries on the 2024 World Press Freedom Index. That figure alone speaks volumes about our current condition.
One may ask—why continue to write despite knowing all this? Because journalism is more than a profession; it is a responsibility. Every truth we write comes with a risk. But we write because if we stop, the truth dies—and with it, the voice of society falls silent. I believe that the more a society is deprived of information, the more inhumane it becomes. Journalists strive to prevent that inhumanity from taking root.
When journalists are attacked or prosecuted, it is not just individuals who suffer—the right to seek and reveal truth is also attacked. I write this not just as a journalist, but as a direct witness to how people are crushed for daring to speak the truth. I do not want future journalists to grow up fearing that truth-telling might cost them their freedom—or their lives. If our pens are silenced, the public's right to know the truth will vanish along with it.
The writer is a journalist, teacher and columnist,
