Published: 09:38 AM, 06 May 2026
Obstructing senior journalist Nazrul at Dhaka Airport aims at scaring media professionals: OCAB
The Overseas Correspondents Association Bangladesh (OCAB) has termed the incident of barring Nazrul Islam Mithu, Editor of the online news portal Newsnext, at the airport while on his way to China as "harassment."
The organization, which represents Bangladeshi journalists working for international media outlets, expressed deep concern over the matter in a statement released on Tuesday.
Journalist Mithu currently serves as the President of OCAB. The organization stated that the obstruction of his foreign travel is "unwarranted and unexpected," as well as a "clear violation of the fundamental freedom of travel or movement."
The statement read: “OCAB condemns this situation. Such a travel ban by security and immigration officials ‘without showing any cause’ is unwarranted and unexpected. It is an attempt to instill fear and alarm in the minds of journalists.”
OCAB further added, “It is regrettable that this incident occurred on the very day that World Press Freedom Day was being observed in Bangladesh and across the globe with a commitment to upholding the freedom of the press.”
On Sunday, OCAB President Mithu was turned back from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport while en route to China. Mithu, the Dhaka correspondent for the German news agency DPA, is also a former President of the Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU). He has previously worked for New Age, The Daily Asian Age, and Bangladesh Times for a long period.
Mithu stated that he was turned back that day due to an "objection from an intelligence agency." He also claimed that the immigration authorities did not clarify the specific allegations under which he was being barred from traveling abroad.
A top official of the Police Special Branch told reporters that day, “Information of passengers is uploaded based on requests from various intelligence agencies and the ACC (Anti-Corruption Commission). In the case of Nazrul Islam, he was not allowed to proceed after an intelligence agency raised an objection.”
OCAB has called upon the government to provide an immediate explanation for the airport incident and to halt all repressive actions and measures that infringe upon the rights of journalists.
