On World Press Freedom Day, media rights in Pakistan and Bangladesh have come under intense scrutiny, with journalists and unions highlighting rising censorship, arbitrary dismissals, and fear-driven newsrooms across both nations.
As the world marked World Press Freedom Day on Friday, journalists from both Pakistan and Bangladesh expressed grave concerns over deteriorating conditions for free media in their countries.
In Bangladesh, Golam Rahman, Editor of Bengali daily Ajker Patrika, described the situation as a “silent crisis” marked by the removal of editors, opaque leadership changes, and growing editorial insecurity.
In an interview, he said, “Since the changeover in Bangladesh last year, July-August, we find there are changes in the media sector. We also find that some of the editors were removed from their positions in newspapers and television, and some new people joined them. Their process of joining is not very transparent.”
Rahman further added, “Because of a lack of transparency, the selection of those key positions in the media is challenging. We find there is a silent crisis in the media that is going on because the media is writing and reporting matters, but many of our editors and key people in the media are not feeling safe to write and express their opinions. They are a bit shaky to express their opinion in full length... We understand some people were in prison, some people were arrested, and some key editors of the newspapers were also arrested. Those are stumbling blocks in the freedom of expression...”
Following the July 2024 uprising, more than two dozen Bangladeshi media outlets underwent abrupt leadership changes. According to The Daily Star, editors of at least eight newspapers and news chiefs at 11 private television stations were either dismissed or forced to resign, while some chose to step down. Several journalists are facing criminal charges, with some under investigation for financial misconduct. Accreditation cards of numerous journalists have also been revoked.
Despite the mounting concerns, the interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus has distanced itself from the media shake-up, stating that it has not intervened in the operations or leadership changes of privately owned media houses.
Meanwhile, in Pakistan, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) lambasted the federal and Punjab governments over new laws they claim have been introduced to muzzle free press. In a joint statement, PFUJ Acting President Khalid Khokhar and Secretary General Arshad Ansari criticised amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2025 and a controversial defamation law passed by the Punjab Assembly.
The PFUJ leaders said the new laws were intended to “stifle press freedom” and “control independent journalism”. They also condemned the non-implementation of the long-awaited Journalist Safety Act, highlighting that no commission had yet been formed, nor rules notified despite parliamentary approval, according to news agency Dawn.
The union alleged that economic tools were being used to suppress independent media, such as selective allocation of government advertisements to pro-government outlets.
“This has created a climate of fear, where many media outlets choose to align with government narratives to ensure their survival, rather than reporting independently,” the statement noted.
Journalists in Pakistan reportedly continue to face threats, violence, and even death, with perpetrators enjoying widespread impunity. Critics argue that legal tools like PECA are used to criminalise journalistic dissent, while media houses are coerced into publishing government-friendly content.
The situation in both countries underscores the challenges facing press freedom in South Asia, as editorial independence, journalist safety, and the right to free expression remain under siege amid shifting political landscapes.
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