Government urged to repeal the draconian Cyber Security Act, the Digital Security Act, and the Information and Communication Technologies Act.
This statement was originally published on rsf.org on 15 October 2024.
As transitional leader Muhammad Yunus looks to reform Bangladesh’s institutions, he must include guarantees for press freedom in his revival of democracy. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the interim authorities to repeal the repressive laws put in place by the recently deposed government and drop the unfounded legal cases against journalists.
Two months after the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the interim government’s chief adviser, Muhammad Yunus, is working to reform Bangladesh’s institutions before a permanent government is voted in. For Yunus to dismantle 15 years of authoritarian policies established by the Awami League party, he must put press freedom, the cornerstone of democracy, at the heart of these reforms.
“Structural reforms are necessary to turn the repressive page of the previous government. We call on Muhammad Yunus’ government to act: end impunity for crimes against media professionals, drop the spurious charges brought by the former regime against journalists caught in a terrible legal spiral, and repeal the cybersecurity law used to silence them. At the same time, it is equally urgent to end the ongoing legal attacks against over 130 journalists who have been the victims of unfounded accusations. The five journalists currently detained for this reason — without any prior investigation — must be released, and their right to a fair trial must be respected. The crimes against journalists committed during the August protests must be investigated in an exemplary manner and subject to judicial sanctions.”
Antoine Bernard, RSF’s Director of Advocacy and Assistance
In August 2024, at least 250 journalists were injured during the deadly crackdown on student-led protests against Hasina’s government. Over 600 people died during the clashes, known as the Monsoon Revolution, and five media professionals were killed. This outbreak of violence prompted the departure of the former prime minister, whose reign was marked by a steady deterioration in press freedom, according to RSF’s annual rankings.
The government of Prime Minister Hasina, which RSF designated as a predator of press freedom, created numerous obstacles for journalists trying to do their work, including censorship, cyber harassment, intimidation from military intelligence units, legal harassment, violence from police and the militias of the ruling party, and murder. In 2024, Hasina’s last year in power, Bangladesh plunged to 165th place out of 180 in RSF’s World Press Freedom Index, the country’s lowest ranking ever.
Under Hasina, Bangladeshi journalists were silenced by an arsenal of draconian laws. Between 2018 and 2023, 97 journalists were arrested and 255 were prosecuted for their reporting under the Digital Security Act, according to a report by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS). Seven media professionals are still being unduly prosecuted, and one was sentenced in absentia.
RSF has issued multiple recommendations for Bangladesh’s interim government to revive press freedom:
- Prosecute those responsible for the murders of the five journalists killed during the Monsoon Revolution (1 July – 6 August 2024), as well as the perpetrators of the violence that injured over 250 journalists. Adequate compensation must be provided for both the injured and the families of the deceased.
- Drop the unjust prosecutions against journalists launched by the previous government, including the cases falling under the repressive Information and Communication Technology Act of 2006, the Digital Security Act of 2018 and the Cyber Security Act of 2023. At least seven media professionals are still awaiting trial due to the use of cybersecurity laws to suppress critical voices. The authorities must also pardon exiled journalist Bashir Akon, a victim of this judicial harassment.
- Repeal the draconian Cyber Security Act, the Digital Security Act, and the Information and Communication Technologies Act.
- Guarantee every journalist’s right not to be subjected to arbitrary detention and prosecution, and their right to presumed innocence in the event of legal proceedings.
- Expedite the legal proceedings of all unresolved cases of murdered journalists, especially the case concerning the journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi.
