Sat May 03 13:29:59 UTC 2025: ## Bangladesh Interim Government Accused of Crushing Media Freedom
**GUWAHATI, INDIA – May 3, 2025** – An Indian rights group has accused Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, of systematically targeting journalists, severely restricting press freedom in the country. The Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) released a report on World Press Freedom Day, documenting over 640 instances of repression against journalists in just eight months.
The report details a range of tactics used to silence the media, including the filing of criminal cases against 182 journalists, acts of violence against 206, denial of accreditation to 167, and investigations launched against 85 senior journalists by the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit. The report also highlights the role of the Anti-Discrimination Students’ Movement (ADSM) in directly pressuring media outlets to fire journalists who posed critical questions.
RRAG director Suhas Chakma stated that the level of press freedom suppression under the interim government is unprecedented in Bangladesh, creating a climate of fear among journalists. He further noted that journalists now face significant risk, second only to Awami League activists. While some arrests have been made in cases of journalist assault, the overall lack of accountability for attacks on the media is deeply concerning.
RRAG plans to submit its findings to the UN and international stakeholders, urging them to take action against the suppression of press freedom in Bangladesh.
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