Geneva: At least 12 Bangladeshi journalists were injured after being attacked by a group of extortionists in the Narsingdi area of Bangladesh on January 26, raising serious concerns over media safety in the country.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), the Dhaka-based government news agency, the incident took place when the journalists were returning to Dhaka by bus after attending a programme organised by the Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh. The injured media persons were later admitted to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital.
Reports said the bus carrying the journalists was parked by the roadside when a group of local extortionists demanded money as tolls. When the journalists protested, an argument broke out, following which the attackers assaulted them using locally made weapons. The assailants also allegedly threatened to burn the journalists’ accompanying wives and children.
Condemning the attack, the global media safety and rights organisation Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) urged the interim government of Bangladesh to conduct a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“It is extremely unfortunate that poll-bound Bangladesh has remained in the media spotlight for repeated incidents of violence against journalists in recent weeks. The attack on journalists in Narsingdi for resisting extortion is unacceptable under any circumstances,” said Blaise Lempen, President of PEC.
PEC’s South Asia representative Nava Thakuria stated that Bangladeshi police have arrested two accused so far and are continuing search operations to nab the remaining members of the gang.
Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority nation with a population of over 170 million, is preparing for its 13th national election scheduled for February 12 under an interim government led by Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus. The caretaker government has recently assured citizens of free, fair and democratic elections.
Earlier this month, on January 5, Bangladesh also reported the killing of journalist Rana Pratap Bairagi (45), who became the first journalist worldwide to be murdered in 2026.
