Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, is facing criticism for using anti-terror laws to arrest journalists in the country. This has led to journalists being detained for months on various charges, including murder, which many consider to be extreme and baseless. A report from a New Delhi-based think tank revealed that by December 2025, around 640 journalists had been targeted by Yunus’ government through legal actions, financial probes, and physical intimidation.
The situation escalated when journalist Anis Alamgir was arrested in December and remains in custody awaiting trial on anti-terrorism charges for criticizing government policies on social media. Similarly, journalist Monjurul Alam Panna faced identical charges for participating in a lawful discussion on constitutional law, an act that is globally recognized as protected speech. Despite these incidents, Yunus’ Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, denied any journalist being prosecuted for criticizing the government, claiming freedom of expression remains intact.
The report highlighted how the government’s use of legal measures to suppress journalism, under the guise of legality, is a concerning trend. Unlike overt censorship, this tactic involves manipulating laws to criminalize journalism, bypassing international scrutiny. The Anti-Terrorism Act in Bangladesh allows for prolonged detention without a judicial warrant, lengthy custodial interrogations, and severe penalties, broadening the definition of terrorism to include acts causing public fear or destabilizing government operations.
Journalists in Bangladesh are increasingly apprehensive about speaking out due to concerns for their safety. Some newsroom leaders have admitted to self-censoring their work to avoid backlash, with one individual in Dhaka expressing fear of government criticism leading to mob violence. The climate of fear intensified when offices of prominent newspapers were attacked and set on fire by far-right groups in December, accusing them of bias towards India and the ruling party.
