Bangladesh: Stressed Media

Eurasia Review | Sanchita Bhattacharya

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Islamist groups have intensified physical assaults and legal prosecutions against journalists, severely undermining press freedom during the country's ongoing political transition. Since August 5, 2024, at least 13 media workers have been killed and 62 injured in 53 separate incidents of violence. This systemic hostility reflects a broader breakdown in the rule of law following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, during which over 100 people were killed in political violence.

The International Crimes Tribunal is now being deployed to prosecute reporters like Shyamal Dutta and Mozammel Babu under "crimes against humanity" charges for their coverage of the July 2024 protests. Meanwhile, a May 18, 2026, Police Special Branch directive ordered the collection of political profiles and social media data on Dhaka-based reporters. At least 266 journalists currently face active litigation. Press freedom is under siege.

Comment

Deploying the International Crimes Tribunal to prosecute journalists under crimes against humanity charges weaponises transitional justice. Repurposing a domestic court established for 1971 war crimes institutionalises the criminalisation of routine press coverage. This legal overreach transforms objective reporting on the July 2024 protests into a state-sanctioned offence. This strategy effectively codifies narrative control, using the threat of ICT-2 detention to silence editors like Shyamal Dutta.

The mechanism relies on broad definitions of incitement within the International Crimes Tribunal Act of 1973 to bypass constitutional protections. Under this framework, the Police Special Branch compiles political and social media dossiers on Dhaka-based reporters. Consequently, prosecution under the International Crimes Tribunal Act of 1973 serves as a tool to censor outlets like Ekattor Television.

Strategic Question for Discussion

If the International Crimes Tribunal Act of 1973 continues to be used as a tool for domestic political retribution, how will this alter the long-term credibility of Bangladesh's transitional justice institutions?

The pattern suggests that deploying the International Crimes Tribunal Act of 1973 against political opponents will severely degrade the domestic and international legitimacy of Bangladesh's judicial institutions. My assessment is that this politicisation risks reducing a historically significant war crimes court to a mere instrument of executive overreach, ultimately undermining future transitional justice efforts. This trajectory indicates that subsequent administrations will likely inherit and exploit these same compromised legal mechanisms to target their own predecessors.

Share your assessment in the comments below.

To read in details click here