Bibhuranjan Sarkar
Media Safety Crisis Deepens in Bangladesh
Dhaka/Geneva: The recurring deaths of Bangladeshi journalists in suspicious circumstances have prompted Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, to express serious concern and urge the interim government in Dhaka to launch a genuine probe to find the reasons behind their unusual fatalities.
On Sunday, August 31 evening, police recovered the body of Khulna-based journalist Wahed-uz-Zaman Bulu, aged 60, from beneath the Rupsa bridge in Bangladesh. A resident of Sonadanga upazila in Khulna district, Bulu worked for Dainik Ajker Kagoj, Sangbad Pratidin and also the United News of Bangladesh.
Earlier, on August 22, the body of journalist Bibhuranjan Sarkar, 70, was found along the Meghna River. A resident of Siddheshwari, Dhaka, Sarkar was associated with Ajker Patrika. His career began as a rural correspondent for Dainik Azad, later working for Dainik Matribhumi, Saptahik Chaltipatra, and Saptahik Mridubhashan. Bibhuranjan (70) was associated with Bangla daily Ajker Patrika. His career began as a rural correspondent for Dainik Azad, later working for Dainik Matribhumi, Saptahik Chaltipatra and Saptahik Mridubhashan.
Bangladesh has seen a surge in unexplained journalist deaths and cases of physical and mental harassment. Over the past year, the country reported more than 500 instances of media personnel harassment. “We demand impartial investigations into every case and stronger measures to ensure media safety as Bangladesh approaches the 13th national elections for Jatiya Sansad in early February 2026,” said PEC president Blaise Lempen.
Nava Thakuria, PEC’s South and Southeast Asia representative, noted that three journalists—Md Asaduzzaman Tuhin, Anwar Hossain, and Khandaker Shah Alam—were killed by assailants this year.
Tuhin, a reporter for Mymensingh-based Dainik Pratidiner Kagoj, was hacked to death on August 7 in Gazipur near Dhaka. Hossain, a journalist with Dainik Bangladesher Alo, was killed in Gazipur on August 6. Alam, associated with Dainik Materi Jagat was killed on June 25 in Dhaka’s Nabinagar locality.
– global bihari bureau
