Attacks on Media, Shrinking Civic Space, and the Crisis of Democratic Accountability
Introduction
Bangladesh’s democratic crisis is no longer theoretical. The coordinated attacks on leading media institutions in December 2025 represent a defining moment for freedom of expression, press independence, and democratic accountability. A state that cannot protect dissenting voices—especially journalists—cannot credibly claim democratic legitimacy.
This article examines the recent attacks on media houses, the state’s response, and what these events reveal about Bangladesh’s shrinking civic space.
Violence Against Media: A Dangerous Escalation
On 19 December 2025, several prominent media offices—including Prothom Alo and The Daily Star—were attacked, vandalised, and set on fire following the death of activist Sharif Osman Hadi. The violence spread across multiple districts, including Sylhet, Rajshahi, Khulna, and Kushtia.
These were not isolated acts of spontaneous anger. Journalists, editors, and rights defenders described the attacks as organised and coordinated, aimed at silencing independent journalism and intimidating dissent.
A Black Day for Press Freedom
For the first time in its history, Prothom Alo was forced to suspend publication. Editors described the attack as an assault on freedom of expression and warned that such violence undermines democratic stability, particularly in the context of upcoming elections.
Similarly, The Daily Star stated that the attacks were not merely on buildings, but on the public’s right to information. Journalists remained trapped inside offices for hours, exposing critical failures in state protection mechanisms.
State Response: Condemnation Without Accountability
While the interim government issued statements condemning the violence, immediate arrests were absent. Law enforcement responses were delayed and dependent on formal complaints rather than proactive protection.
This pattern—verbal condemnation without swift accountability—has become a hallmark of democratic erosion. When perpetrators act with impunity, fear becomes institutionalised.
National and International Alarm
Legal experts, academics, and civil society leaders described the attacks as a direct assault on constitutional freedoms. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights urged Bangladesh to protect journalists and uphold freedom of expression.
Transparency International Bangladesh and international media freedom coalitions linked the violence directly to governance failures, warning that intimidation of the press undermines democratic participation and informed citizenship.
Democracy Requires Dissent
Democracy is not defined by elections alone. It requires:
Freedom of expression
Protection of journalists
Accountability for violence
Space for criticism and opposition
When dissent becomes dangerous, democracy becomes performative. Silence is mistaken for stability, and fear replaces consent.
Bangladesh today risks crossing that threshold.
Conclusion: A Test of Democratic Conscience
The attacks on the media in December 2025 are a stress test for Bangladesh’s democratic integrity. Protecting journalists is not a privilege—it is a constitutional obligation.
Until dissent is protected, accountability is enforced, and impunity is dismantled, Bangladesh cannot be described as fully democratic.
Author Profile
Minhaz Samad Chowdhury
Independent Human Rights Defender and Policy Advocate
Focus Areas:
State Violence • Media Freedom • Political Rights • Minority Protection • Democratic Accountability
🌐 https://hr-defender.blogspot.com
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