Awami League Decries Rising Attacks on Journalists, Demands End to Persecution

Staff Correspondent | May 3, 2025

On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, the Bangladesh Awami League issued a forceful statement condemning what it described as an unprecedented wave of state-sponsored persecution against journalists in the country over the past seven months.

In a rare show of solidarity, the party extended its “deepest sympathies” to members of the press who have endured “vile threats of mob violence, outrageous murder charges, physical assaults, and forced terminations”—all of which, the statement claimed, have been part of a larger strategy to stifle independent journalism.

“These attacks, rather than silencing the press, have only exposed the integrity and resilience of journalists who continue to serve the nation objectively,” the statement read.

The Awami League also took aim at what it labeled as “brazen justifications” for violence and harassment, including the frequent labeling of journalists as “agents of Awami League,” which it says is used as a pretext to delegitimize critical voices and intimidate the media.

According to the party, Bangladesh has witnessed a record number of journalists being implicated in “ridiculous murder charges,” a move it condemned as an abuse of the legal system to instill fear and suppress freedom of expression.

The statement also criticized the use of mob violence to pressure media outlets into terminating journalists and cited incidents of daylight vandalism and arson at media headquarters under the guise of reform efforts as “a blot on the state-managed assault on the fourth estate.”

“The regime’s tall claim to ensure a free and fair media environment has proven to be a farce before the international community,” it added.

Calling for a united front, the Awami League appealed to all political parties to “cease the demonization of journalists” and to collectively resist the regime’s attempts to control information and suppress dissent.

“Controlling the flow of information will only plunge the country further into chaos and weaken our democratic aspirations,” the statement concluded.