On December 18, 2025, coordinated attacks targeted Bangladesh’s independent media and cultural institutions, including Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, and Chhayanaut. These violent acts, alongside the reported public beating and burning of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh, signal a dangerous escalation in threats to journalists, activists, and cultural practitioners. The incidents highlight the growing vulnerability of independent media and civic spaces in the lead-up to the 2026 national elections.
The attacks followed the killing of political activist Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent figure in the 2024 July Uprising, reflecting an alarming pattern of targeting individuals and institutions involved in civic and political life. Reports indicate that journalists were trapped inside burning offices, emphasizing the immediate threats to life and the state’s responsibility to provide protection. The temporary suspension of both print and digital operations further underscores the severity of the threat to media freedom in Bangladesh.
Cultural institutions are also under attack. The assault on Chhayanaut highlights an increasingly unsafe environment for artistic expression and intellectual work, reflecting a broader pattern of harassment, online incitement, and coordinated violence. Verified reports suggest that some attacks were fueled by hate speech on social media, amplified by influential personalities, exposing a failure by technology platforms to ensure user safety and prevent the spread of violent content.
The state has repeatedly failed to respond effectively to these threats, despite proposing cyber law reforms. The persistence of online incitement and real-world attacks demonstrates a profound enforcement gap, raising serious concerns about the interim government’s capacity and commitment to safeguard freedom of expression, media, and personal security.
Bangladesh is legally obligated under its constitution and international human rights law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to protect its citizens from discrimination, violence, and harassment. Recent events, including excessive force during the 2024 protests and the current inaction against targeted attacks, show a troubling pattern of both repression and inertia, undermining public confidence in democratic institutions.
The international community calls on the interim government to take immediate action to protect journalists, media workers, and cultural institutions; conduct transparent and independent investigations; hold perpetrators accountable; engage technology companies to curb online hate and violence; and ensure safe, enabling conditions for civic and cultural participation, particularly ahead of the 2026 national election. These measures are essential to uphold freedom of expression, media independence, and public trust in democratic governance.
Solidarity is expressed with journalists, media workers, artists, and communities in Bangladesh, reaffirming the commitment to defending freedom of expression, accountability, and safe civic participation both online and offline.
