The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged the incoming government of Bangladesh to maintain the constitutional protections of press freedom and implement immediate measures to ensure the safety of journalists. CPJ, in a recent statement on its official Facebook page, emphasized the importance of addressing concerns previously raised in pre-election communications to prominent political parties such as the BNP, Jamaat, National Citizen Party, and Jatiya Party. The organization stressed the need for reforms that promote accountability and protect the media from violence, intimidation, and the misuse of legal regulations. Safeguarding press freedom was underscored as essential for democracy and a critical aspect during the country’s transition to a new administration.
CPJ had reached out to major political groups in Bangladesh prior to the national election on January 29, expressing concerns about escalating risks faced by journalists leading up to the polls. The organization also cited incidents of violent attacks in December against the offices of prominent newspapers, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, as alarming indicators of threats to press freedom and safety.