Anti-Repression Journalists’ Front demands immediate release of jailed journos, withdrawal of cases

The Anti-Repression Journalists’ Front has demanded the immediate release of jailed journalists, withdrawal of cases filed against them and reinstatement of journalists who have been dismissed from their jobs.

The demands were raised at a human chain organised by the platform in front of the National Press Club on Friday morning, October 16, 2026.

Chaired by the front’s convener, Akhtar Hossain, and moderated by its member secretary, Sheikh Jamal, the event heard journalist leaders allege that Muhammad Yunus, after coming to power in August 2024, launched attacks on liberal-minded people from various professions and social backgrounds.

They alleged that, as part of state-backed pressure, harassment and violence against journalists, hundreds had faced legal harassment, physical assaults and criminal cases, while their accreditation cards had been revoked and many had lost their jobs. The Yunus government had also supported the killing of journalists, they claimed.

The leaders said the current government had continued the pattern of repression established during Yunus’s tenure.

The front’s leaders said journalists Shakil Ahmed, Farzana Rupa, Shyamal Dutta and Mozammel Babu had remained in prison since their arrests in August and September 2024.

More than two years had passed, they said, leaving the journalists’ families to endure each day amid deep anxiety and uncertainty. They claimed that prolonged incarceration had severely affected the journalists’ physical and mental health, with their illnesses worsening and psychological distress taking a toll on both their wellbeing and their children’s futures.

The leaders said the journalists had been named in multiple murder cases alongside hundreds of other accused, but there had been no significant progress in the investigations or trials. Their bail applications had repeatedly been rejected, they added.

Meanwhile, charges of crimes against humanity had been brought before the International Crimes Tribunal against Shyamal Dutta, Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa. The allegations, the leaders said, drew on aspects of their journalism, broadcasting and professional activities. They argued that treating such activities as crimes against humanity raised serious questions about press freedom and journalists’ safety.

Sheikh Jamal, the front’s member secretary, said the arrests and alleged torture of journalists Gazi Tushar Ahmed and Sheikh Emon Ahmed had spread fear throughout the journalistic community.

Expressing strong condemnation and anger over the shooting death of journalist Lutfuzzaman Alif in Netrokona, he demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible and exemplary punishment.

Jamal said 52 journalists had been arrested across the country, including Shahriar Kabir, Mozammel Babu, Shyamal Dutta, Shakil Ahmed, Farzana Rupa, Sheikh Jamal, Manjurul Alam Panna, Anis Alamgir, Sheikh Emon Ahmed and Gazi Tushar Ahmed. Several of them remained in prison, he added.

He further said 118 journalists, including Sumanta Chakraborty, Mehedi Mamun, Abdur Rahman, Prabir Das, Shyamal Nandi, Meherul Sujon and Mahfuzur Rahman Shishir, had been physically harassed or assaulted while performing their professional duties.

According to Jamal, 15 journalists had been killed, including Mehedi Hasan, Shakil Hossain, Tahir Zaman, ATM Turab, Pradip Kumar Bhowmik, Sohel Akhanji, Azahar Ali and Lutfuzzaman Alif Fakir.

He said murder cases had been filed against 446 journalists across the country, including senior journalists working for national newspapers and television channels, and that the cases remained in force.

Editors of national newspapers, heads of news at television channels and reporters working for various media outlets had also been dismissed, while editorial positions at several organisations had been taken over, he alleged.

Jamal further claimed that offices of several media outlets had been vandalised and set on fire. Those named included Bangladesh Television (BTV), Ekattor TV, Somoy TV, DBC, Gaan Bangla, ATN News, ATN Bangla, MyTV, Bijoy TV, News24, Amader Orthoneeti, Amader Notun Shomoy, Dainik Mukhopatro, Kaler Kantho, Bangladesh Pratidin, Daily Sun, BanglaNews, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star.

He said journalists’ accreditation cards had been revoked on an unprecedented scale. The memberships of 700 people at the National Press Club and various other press clubs across the country had been suspended or cancelled, and the decisions remained in effect, he alleged.

More than 50 journalists had also been subjected to what he described as illegal restrictions on leaving the country, while the bank accounts of 47 journalists had been unlawfully frozen. Both measures remained in force, he added.

Among those present at the human chain were the organisation’s joint convener Zakir Hossain Emon and members Sajeda Haque, AKM Obaidur Rahman, Ragebul Reza, Waresunnabi Khandaker, Naimur Rahman Swapan, Hasnat Shahin, Rahima Khanam, Shafiur Rahman, Majedul Islam Papel, Sujit Sajib and Ramzan Ali, among others.