At least 1,073 journalists across Bangladesh faced various forms of repression in 476 incidents between August 5, 2024 and November 1, 2025, according to a Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) study unveiled on Tuesday.
The findings were presented at TIB’s Dhanmondi office during the release of a research report and the presentation ceremony of the TIB Investigative Journalism Awards 2025.
This year, four journalists and one documentary programme were recognized across multiple categories.
In the Regional Newspaper category, Daily Gramer Kagoj (Jessore) Senior Staff Reporter Faisal Islam and Staff Reporter Ashiqur Rahman Shimul won the award.
In the National Newspaper category, Rashidul Hasan, Senior Staff Reporter at The Daily Sun, was named the winner.
In the Television (Report) category, the award went to Mufti Parvez Nadir Reza, former Special Correspondent at Ekattor TV and currently Head of Input and Planning Editor at Channel One. Each awardee received a certificate, a crest, and Tk 125,000.
The Television (Documentary Programme) award was given to Searchlight, aired on Channel 24, led by Md Faizul Alam Siddique, now a Special Correspondent at Star News. The documentary team received Tk 150,000, along with a certificate and crest.
The report, titled “The State of Media in Post-Authoritarian Bangladesh”, was presented by TIB Assistant Coordinator (Outreach and Communication) Jafar Sadiq to mark International Anti-Corruption Day 2025.
According to the study, journalists were subjected to attacks, lawsuits, murder, threats, harassment, detention, attacks on family members, destruction of property, dismissal, removal from duties, and suspension. Of these, 459 journalists were attacked in 259 incidents, while 99 received threats in 89 incidents.
Another 70 journalists were harassed in 30 incidents, and 27 were detained in 19 incidents. In nine incidents, family members of 17 journalists were attacked or their homes were vandalised. Six journalists were murdered during the reporting period.
Additionally, 189 journalists were fired, suspended, or stripped of responsibilities in five separate incidents.
Region-wise, Dhaka Division accounted for the highest share of incidents at 35%, followed by Chattogram (14%), Khulna (11%), Rangpur and Rajshahi (10% each), Barisal (9%), Mymensingh (6%), and Sylhet (5%).
Sadiq said journalists had long faced enforced disappearance, murder, harassment, and lawsuits under the previous authoritarian regime, driven by repressive laws and actions by state agencies. He added that although the authoritarian system had fallen, the pattern of violations had not entirely stopped. Some of those targeted were, he noted, beneficiaries of or linked to the former regime.
TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Dhaka Tribune Editor Riaz Ahmad, AFP Dhaka Bureau Chief Sheikh Sabiha Alam, journalist Shahnaz Munni, and other media professionals attended the event.
