Dhaka, October 3, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
At least 162 journalists in Bangladesh faced attacks, threats, harassment or legal harassment in 112 separate incidents while carrying out their professional duties between July and September, according to a monitoring report by the Media Initiative for Development (MID).
The report, released on Friday, identified August as the most violent month of the three-month period, with 67 journalists affected in 44 incidents. The number of incidents was 12.8 per cent higher than in July, when 50 journalists were affected in 39 incidents.
The situation eased in September, with 45 journalists facing harassment or violence in 29 incidents. Compared with August, the number of incidents fell by 34.1 per cent and the number of affected journalists by 32.8 per cent, according to MID.
Physical attacks and death threats were among the predominant forms of intimidation recorded during the period. Death threats accounted for 48.7 per cent of incidents in July, while physical attacks made up 28.2 per cent. Physical attacks rose sharply in August, accounting for 63.6 per cent of incidents, while in September, physical attacks and threats each represented 37.9 per cent.
The three months also saw shootings, attacks on journalists’ homes and offices, legal cases and abductions, the report said.
Print journalists, particularly those working in the field and outside major cities, were the most affected. Of the 162 journalists targeted, 89 worked for daily newspapers, 53 for television channels and 20 for online news outlets.
The incidents were reported in more than 30 districts, with Dhaka, Chittagong, Sirajganj, Barisal and Sylhet recording comparatively higher numbers.
MID also raised concerns over limited legal action. General diaries were filed in 46.2 per cent of incidents in July and 54.5 per cent in August, while at least 41.4 per cent of September incidents saw no legal action.
MID Executive Director Rashedul Hasan said violence against journalists was an attack on press freedom and the public’s right to information, and called for impartial, swift investigations and punishment for those responsible.
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