Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has raised serious concerns over the continued targeted attacks on journalists, media harassment, and personal lawsuits aimed at silencing the press. In a press release on Wednesday, TIB urged the interim government to address this alarming trend, which it warns is contrary to the vision of an anti-discriminatory ‘New Bangladesh.’ The organization called for urgent action to protect journalists and create a secure, unbiased environment for the media.

TIB’s executive director, Iftekharuzzaman, highlighted that, under the previous authoritarian regime, Bangladesh's standing in the World Press Freedom Index dropped by 42 places in 14 years, and media freedom consistently declined. He emphasized that ongoing efforts to stifle the media, through threats and arbitrary lawsuits, endanger the progress of a free press and could push the nation back towards authoritarianism. He added that “dissent is the friend of tyranny,” cautioning that freedom of journalism must be protected in the new Bangladesh.

An example of media freedom suppression came when Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, and Sarjis Alam, secretary of the July Shaheed Smrity Foundation, condemned journalist Khaled Muhiuddin for promoting the president of the banned Chhatra League organization. Muhiuddin announced plans to interview the Chhatra League president on Thikana News, a US-based Bangla news outlet, prompting accusations of “betraying the blood of the martyrs” and “promoting banned organizations,” sparking a public outcry.