The Decline of Press Freedom in Bangladesh: A Dark Chapter Under Sheikh Hasina
During the Awami League regime, press freedom in Bangladesh became merely a hollow term, as most media outlets were turned into propaganda tools, directly or indirectly, through fear and pressure.
সাবেক প্রধানমন্ত্রী শেখ হাসিনার সরকারকালে (২০০৯-২০২৪) বাংলাদেশে গণমাধ্যমের স্বাধীনতা শুধুমাত্র একটি ফাঁকা বুলিতে পরিণত হয়েছিল। অধিকাংশ সংবাদমাধ্যম ভয় ও চাপের ফলে সরাসরি বা পরোক্ষভাবে রাষ্ট্রীয় প্রচার মাধ্যমের মত ভূমিকা রেখেছে। যার ফলে ফ্রিডম ইনডেক্সে বাংলাদেশের অবস্থান নেমে আসে ১৬৫তম যা আগে ছিল ১১৮তম।
Media is often called the fourth estate of a country, complementing the constitutionally established executive, legislative, and judicial branches. "Fourth Estate" reflects the media's vital role in empowering citizens with information to hold governments accountable. Media is also called the mirror of the world, as it reflects events, issues, and developments occurring globally, providing a snapshot of society much like a mirror reflects an individual's image.
However, over the past 16 years, Bangladesh has witnessed one-sided representation of the media. Most media outlets in the country refrained from publishing reports critical of Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh. While destroying the independence of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, Sheikh Hasina also dismantled the media system. During her tenure, press freedom in Bangladesh collapsed entirely.
According to Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF) 2024 Press Freedom Index, Bangladesh ranked 165th out of 180 countries and regions—its lowest position to date. The Press Freedom Index, published annually since 2002, ranked Bangladesh 118th in its first edition. Since the Awami League came to power in December 2008, Bangladesh has dropped 44 places in the index. In 2009, Bangladesh ranked 121st, scoring 42.2 out of 100. By 2024, the score had plummeted to 27.64. RSF has classified Bangladesh's press freedom situation as "Very Serious."
The RSF evaluates five key criteria for the Press Freedom Index: political context, legal framework, economic context, sociocultural context, and journalist safety. Regarding political context, RSF states, "Sheikh Hasina, in power since 2009, is no exception. Supporters of her party, the Awami League, regularly launch violent physical attacks against journalists they dislike, while judicial harassment campaigns are carried out to silence certain journalists or force media outlets to close."
Under Hasina's regime, most media outlets functioned as mouthpieces for the government. Those who attempted to challenge this narrative faced severe repercussions. For instance, two of the country's leading newspapers—the Bengali-language Prothom Alo and the English-language Daily Star—struggled to maintain editorial independence. In retaliation, Sheikh Hasina's government excluded these newspapers from press conferences, denied them government advertisements, and pressured private companies to withhold advertising. During a parliamentary session on February 29, 2016, Hasina publicly criticized these outlets, stating, "I do not read Prothom Alo and Daily Star." Such statements from the Prime Minister created a terrifying effect, fostering a hostile environment for independent journalism. The government also challenged these newspapers through political and financial pressures. Despite these hardships, Prothom Alo and Daily Star remained resilient, even as they became isolated in a media landscape dominated by pro-government outlets.
Although Hasina's tenure saw a significant increase in media outlets, this growth was limited to quantity, not quality or independence. Ownership patterns reveal the nature of the media system Hasina fostered. A study titled Who Owns the Media in Bangladesh by Mohammad Sajjadur Rahman and Dr. Ali Riaz found it nearly impossible to own and operate media outlets—especially television channels—without close ties to the ruling party. Between 2009 and 2013, the Hasina government issued 29 no-objection certificates (NOCs) for television channels, followed by seven more from 2014 to 2018. In October 2009 alone, 10 television channel licenses were approved.
Since Awami League supporters owned most television channels, they acted as extensions of government propaganda. These outlets refrained from criticizing the Hasina regime and actively suppressed opposition voices. During the July Revolution, 2024, the Bangladeshi media explicitly and unabashedly aligned itself with the government, leaving no room for impartiality or pretense.
Sheikh Hasina's regime represents a dark chapter for press freedom in Bangladesh. The media has been reduced to a propaganda tool, broadcasting only favorable news about her government while vilifying opposition voices. By fostering a culture of fear and oppression, Hasina and her supporters silenced dissent within media houses and across the nation, eroding one of the fundamental pillars of democracy.
About the Author:
The writer is a graduate student in the Department of Communication Studies at Ball State University, USA. He can be reached at sumon.jms@gmail.com.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect The Insighta's editorial stance. However, any errors in the stated facts or figures may be corrected if supported by verifiable evidence. | A guest post by
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