Staff Correspondent

The nature of threats against journalists is evolving into modern forms, yet perpetrators continue to get away unpunished. To ensure journalists' safety in both rural regions and the capital, every threat requires a specific, credible investigation, swift redress, and equal district-level safety coverage.

This call was made on the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists on November 2.

When a journalist in a district town of Bangladesh reports a death threat, the response from authorities determines whether their next investigative story will be published at all. If these warnings are ignored, the reporter remains exposed, and colleagues learn that pursuing a difficult truth carries a price the authorities will do little to prevent. Long before a newspaper closes or a broadcaster goes silent, the public loses its right to information.

On the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) calls upon the Government of Bangladesh, law enforcement agencies, and the judiciary to uphold journalist protection as a clear and demonstrable public responsibility. To safeguard journalists from technology-facilitated gender-based violence, every credible threat must receive a swift response. Every attack requires an effective investigation. Regardless of political influence or institutional standing, those responsible must face fair legal proceedings.

The main theme of UNESCO’s recent reporting was "Threats evolve. Impunity endures." The use of new technologies and weaponry, particularly in conflict zones, is changing how journalists are threatened and attacked. Accountability must keep pace. Ending the culture of impunity is a difficult and urgent test for public institutions, and an essential prerequisite for freedom of expression and access to information. Its outcomes impact every citizen who relies on independent journalism.

The global picture is deeply alarming. According to UNESCO’s reporting, the impunity rate for journalist killings has reached 86 percent. This marks the first increase since UNESCO began tracking this metric in 2012. Additionally, UNESCO recorded 189 journalists killed over a two-year period, including 127 in conflict zones. The 86 percent figure represents a global measure concerning journalist killings, rather than a Bangladesh-specific statistic or a metric covering all forms of violence against the press.

According to United Nations data, more than 1,700 journalists have been killed worldwide since 1993. UNESCO’s regional tracking indicates the highest number of killings recorded in Arab States. New methods of attack further compound the danger: 50 journalists were killed by drone strikes alone across six war zones. The technology behind violence is advancing faster than the systems designed to deliver justice.

Killing is the most extreme way to silence a journalist. However, abduction, torture, arbitrary detention, and intimidation also prevent information from reaching the public. Furthermore, abusive litigation—such as Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs)—exhausts a newsroom's resources and deters further investigation. These pressures accelerate the decline of press freedom. When perpetrators go unpunished, reporting on corruption, human rights abuses, and crime disappears, leaving society stripped of its ability to challenge wrongdoing.

Bangladesh also has unresolved judicial cases. More than a decade after the murder of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi in February 2012, the case remains unresolved. Their families are entitled to an independent investigation and a credible explanation for the prolonged delay. The investigation into these killings must follow the evidence rather than relying on unestablished assumptions.

This danger is not confined to journalists whose names reach national media headlines. There is a long history of killings involving local correspondents and editors outside Dhaka, many of which remain without a verdict. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has warned that ongoing attacks, intimidation, and longstanding impunity in Bangladesh foster fear and self-censorship among journalists. Expressions of solidarity on an annual observance are not enough; sustained institutional action is required.

In Bangladesh, protecting journalists is inextricably linked to safeguarding the public's fundamental rights. Reporting on public spending, land disputes, environmental damage, or access to civic services enables citizens to question those in power. Local correspondents, freelancers, and community radio broadcasters outside Dhaka must be assured of this protection without relying on the influence of major media outlets. Similarly, protection must cover female journalists, as well as those from minority and marginalized communities.

Threats in the digital space demand specific attention. The UNESCO and ICFJ report 'The Chilling' revealed that 73 per cent of surveyed female journalists experienced online violence in connection with their work. In the context of Bangladesh, effective measures must be taken immediately to counter threats delivered in Bangla and regional languages—including sexualized harassment and image manipulation aimed at intimidating women into silence.

BNNRC is implementing the “Strengthening Resilience Against Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) and Promoting Digital Development project.” The project is being implemented under the Nagorikata: Civic Engagement Fund (CEF) programme, funded by Switzerland, Global Affairs Canada, and the European Union, with technical support from GFA Consulting Group.

BNNRC demands explicit protection from Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) for journalists both in Dhaka and beyond. This framework must deliver strong legal and technological responses against sexual threats, cyberstalking, non-consensual disclosure of private information, and the use of AI-generated or manipulated images for intimidation. Access to this assistance must not depend on a reporter's geographic location or employment status.

A credible response should link online and physical safety arrangements. Measures must include evidence preservation, account security, and rapid response protocols for threats. Journalists should have access to confidential support without being forced to reveal their sources or relive trauma publicly.

The UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity provides an essential framework. Adopted in 2012, it brings together UN bodies, national authorities, and civil society around prevention, protection, and prosecution. The United Nations credits the Plan with helping establish national safety mechanisms in nearly 50 countries.

The Plan's tenth anniversary in 2022 provided an opportunity to renew commitments. Bangladesh should translate these international pledges into practical, effective arrangements. The observance itself rests on UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/68/163, which declared 2 November as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, commemorating the killing of two French journalists in Mali on 2 November 2013. The resolution calls for prevention, accountability, appropriate remedies for victims, and a safe environment for independent reporting.

BNNRC's Specific Recommendations and Calls to Action:

Independent Investigation and Following Evidence: Provide the necessary resources and technical expertise for impartial investigations into killings, physical assaults, and severe threats. Bring to justice those who order, finance, or facilitate attacks, alongside the perpetrators.

Prevention Before Violence Occurs: Establish or strengthen rapid-response mechanisms and hotlines at national and district levels to ensure immediate protection when a threat is received.

Preventing Misuse of Legal Proceedings: Review and withdraw abusive or harassment lawsuits filed against journalists for their legitimate reporting. End arbitrary detentions and guarantee access to legal assistance.

Protection from Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV): Ensure survivor-centered, confidential reporting and prompt action against cyber attacks, sexualized threats, and AI-manipulated content targeting female journalists.

Media Employer Responsibility: Media organizations must provide essential safety training, legal aid, and psychosocial support to their staff and freelancers.

Measuring Progress and Data Transparency: Formulate a national implementation plan aligned with international standards, and regularly publish public updates on the progress of threat investigations and judicial proceedings.

Our concern extends beyond Bangladesh. Under international humanitarian law, journalists covering armed conflicts are protected as civilians unless and for such time as they directly participate in hostilities.

We stand with journalists facing threats, those arbitrarily detained or forced into exile, and the families and colleagues of those killed. Their right to protection must not depend on whether their reporting is welcomed by the government, opposition parties, or influential groups.

Real progress in Bangladesh must be judged by what happens after a journalist requests help—whether protection arrives, whether investigations advance, and whether justice follows the evidence. Making this response dependable across every district is the true path to ending impunity, because the public's right to know depends on it.