Press Freedom Under Pressure: The Alarming State of Media Rights in Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, press freedom is under relentless attack, with the government using the Digital Security Act (DSA) as a tool to silence critics and punish dissent. The recent U.S. Department of State report on human rights highlights a troubling reality: journalists, activists, and citizens are routinely targeted for speaking out, particularly on sensitive issues like the government’s handling of COVID-19. The case of photojournalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol, who was forcibly disappeared and detained for months after reporting on a crime syndicate linked to powerful individuals, exemplifies the dangerous climate of repression. As intimidation and self-censorship become the norm, Bangladesh’s democratic values are at risk. It is time for the government to repeal the DSA and ensure that journalists can report freely and without fear—because a nation without a free press cannot truly be free.