The United Nations has expressed serious concern over coordinated attacks on leading media houses and cultural institutions in Bangladesh, blaming a long-standing culture of impunity for the violence.
In a statement released on Tuesday, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan, said recent incidents targeting journalists, artists and cultural spaces pose a grave threat to media freedom and democracy.
She referred to the unrest that followed the killing of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi during the July 2024 uprising, noting that amid nationwide protests, offices of The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, as well as the Chhayanaut cultural centre, were vandalised and set on fire. An attack on the editor of New Age was also reported during the same period.
Condemning the killing of Hadi, Irene Khan said the organised violence that followed his death against independent journalists and artists was equally alarming. “Using public anger as a weapon against the media and cultural workers is always dangerous, particularly at a time when the country is preparing for elections,” she said.
The UN expert warned that such violence undermines media freedom, silences minority voices and dissenting opinions, and could have serious consequences for democracy.
She further said these attacks did not occur in isolation but were the result of the interim government’s failure to dismantle the culture of impunity and adequately protect freedom of expression and artistic freedom.
According to the statement, over the past year freedom of expression—especially press freedom—has come under sustained pressure in Bangladesh, both online and offline, from state and non-state actors. Since August 5, 2024, hundreds of journalists have reportedly been arrested on what the UN described as politically motivated and questionable charges, including allegations of terrorism and serious crimes. Many have been held in prolonged detention.
Irene Khan said the continuation of impunity has effectively normalised threats and attacks, allowing perpetrators to evade accountability.
She urged the authorities to ensure prompt, impartial and transparent investigations into Hadi’s killing and all attacks on the media, and to bring those responsible to justice through due legal process.
Ahead of the elections, she also called on the government to take immediate preventive and protective measures to ensure the safety of journalists, civil society members and other vulnerable groups.
“To honour its commitment to a safe and credible election, the interim government must guarantee freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” she said, adding that journalists, human rights defenders, civil society leaders, political candidates, women and minorities must be able to exercise their fundamental rights without fear of reprisals.
