Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed serious concerns following the alleged detention of 21 employees from the online news portal ‘Bangladesh Times’ by army personnel. TIB labeled this incident as unacceptable, aiming to instill fear among journalists, as reported by local media. TIB’s Executive Director, Iftekharuzzaman, criticized the army’s actions during a public speech, emphasizing the unsettling precedent set by the incident at the media outlet’s office.
Iftekharuzzaman strongly condemned the army’s actions, highlighting the inappropriateness of taking employees from an institution without specific allegations, deeming it completely unacceptable. He stressed that regardless of any justifications, this sets a highly negative and violent precedent for journalism freedom in Bangladesh. The Executive Director emphasized that legal and institutional channels should have been pursued if there were objections to any news reports, rather than resorting to such drastic measures.
The incident unfolded when army personnel entered the Bangladesh Times office in Dhaka’s Nikunja around 9:30 pm local time, taking the employees to an army camp. Subsequently, a live video on the Bangladesh Times Facebook page at 11:30 pm showed the employees returning to the office post their release. Iftekharuzzaman expressed concerns about the authoritarian manner in which people were taken, emphasizing the chilling effect it has on the entire media landscape in Bangladesh.
Citing recent attacks on media offices like ‘The Daily Star’ and ‘Prothom Alo’, Iftekharuzzaman questioned the role of law enforcement agencies, including the army, in such incidents. He viewed the Bangladesh Times event as a consequence of fearless reporting and raised doubts about the authority under which such actions were carried out by army officers. Urging restraint, he called on the army and all institutions to refrain from such actions and find constructive ways to address the mounting pressure on free media in Bangladesh.
The Bangladeshi Journalists in International Media (BJIM) also expressed concern over the Bangladesh Times office incident, demanding clarification from authorities regarding the army’s actions. They stressed the vital importance of safeguarding journalists’ safety and preserving editorial independence from any form of intimidation or interference.
