Published: 07:52 AM, 02 December 2025
Journalist Support Desk launched in BD
With support of UNESCO's Global Media Defence Fund (GMDF), the Society of Media and Sustainable Human Communication Techniques Trust (SoMaSHTe) has launched a Journalist Support Desk in Bangladesh. Amid a transitional political landscape, the initiative aims to provide legal assistance and resources to journalists, reinforcing the role of independent media in promoting accountability and transparency.
The new Support Desk and its accompanying hotline are now receiving requests from journalists seeking legal advice, assistance or referral to legal aid services in their respective regions. This approach not only strengthens the legal protection of journalists but also builds the capacities of media lawyers across the country.
According to a recent UNESCO survey, 34% of media lawyers reported lacking sufficient expertise to effectively defend journalists against the rapidly evolving and innovative legal challenges they face. The study also revealed a concerning trend: 68% of judicial actors observed an increase in strategic lawsuits targeting journalists and media outlets, often involving charges such as defamation, terrorism, false news or financial crimes. When targeted, many media professionals struggle to secure adequate legal assistance, limiting their ability to defend themselves and continue reporting freely.
Despite an uncertain and evolving political context, SoMaSHTe developed a collaborative strategy to respond to these challenges. The initiative began with a two-day workshop to strengthen journalists' legal literacy and to generate recommendations for establishing the Journalist Support Desk and guiding broader advocacy.
Building on this workshop, a high-level national dialogue gathered journalists, lawyers and representative organizations to discuss the operational way forward. The national dialogue cemented partnerships between stakeholders who pledged collective action in defense of journalists.
>>AA Shamim Ahmed, UK
