Published: 12:32 AM, 21 May 2026
Tagging Media Houses With Political Tapestries and Grabbing News Outlets Portray A Bleak Scenario
Zakir Hossain Talukder
The condition of journalism in Bangladesh has become a matter of growing concern among media professionals, civil society observers, and advocates of democratic governance. During the tenure of Dr. Muhammad Yunus-led interim administration and the immediate past interim government, debates surrounding press freedom, political pressure, media ownership, and the safety of journalists intensified across the country. Allegations of assaults on journalists, intimidation of media owners, mob violence, and politically motivated targeting of newspapers and broadcasters generated anxiety within the nation’s media landscape. At the same time, the newspaper industry faced a severe economic crisis driven by the rapid rise of digital media and the sharp decline of print circulation.
The relationship between political authority and the press has historically been delicate in South Asia, and Bangladesh is no exception. Media institutions often operate under intense political polarization, where criticism of those in power can trigger retaliation from rival groups, administrative pressure, or organized campaigns aimed at silencing opponents’ voices. During volatile political transitions, journalists frequently become vulnerable because they are seen either as allies or enemies of competing political camps.
Reports and discussions among media stakeholders during the interim administration highlighted concerns over assaults on reporters while covering demonstrations, political unrest, and local conflicts. In several incidents, journalists alleged that they were attacked by mobs while carrying out professional duties in public spaces. Such attacks create an atmosphere of fear, discouraging investigative journalism and reducing public access to credible information. When journalists become targets, the wider society also suffers because citizens lose access to independent reporting.
One of the most alarming trends discussed during this period was the rise of mob violence and public killings occurring in broad daylight. Whether driven by political rivalry, social tensions, or local disputes, these incidents contributed to a growing perception of insecurity. Journalists attempting to document these events often faced intimidation from aggressive groups seeking to prevent media exposure. In democratic societies, the press serves as a witness to injustice and violence. If reporters are silenced through fear or physical attacks, accountability weakens and impunity expands.
Another contentious issue involved allegations of pressure on media entrepreneurs and attempts to influence ownership structures of media houses. In politically unstable circumstances, business owners connected with newspapers or television channels can become easy targets for accusations, investigations, or public hostility. Critics argued that some actions against media organizations appeared politically motivated rather than legally justified. They claimed that certain business figures were portrayed through political labels or “tagging” designed to discredit them before the public. Such practices, if true, undermine confidence in fair governance and create a chilling effect across the media industry.
The term “grabbing media houses” became part of public discussion because of fears that ownership changes or administrative actions could be used to weaken independent voices. Media organizations are not merely businesses; they are institutions central to democratic accountability. If ownership transitions occur under political pressure or in volatile circumstances, editorial independence may be compromised. Journalists then begin practicing self-censorship to avoid conflict with influential actors.
Economic pressure also became a major challenge for newspapers during this period. Many newspaper owners and editors complained about the prolonged absence of supplements and advertisements from government offices and public institutions. According to concerns raised by sections of the industry, the reduction or suspension of government-related advertising for nearly nineteen months significantly damaged the financial sustainability of print newspapers. In Bangladesh, government advertisements and official supplements have historically represented an important revenue stream for many publications, particularly regional newspapers with limited private-sector advertising.
When this financial support weakens, newspapers struggle to pay salaries, maintain printing operations, and sustain reporting networks outside major cities. Smaller newspapers are especially vulnerable because they rely heavily on institutional advertising. The absence of such revenue can lead to layoffs, delayed salaries, shrinking newsroom operations, and even closure. Critics argued that withholding government advertisements from selected newspapers could indirectly pressure editorial policy, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
However, the crisis of print journalism is not solely political. The global transformation of media consumption has fundamentally changed how audiences access information. Across the world, readers increasingly prefer online platforms, mobile applications, social media updates, and digital subscriptions over traditional printed newspapers. Bangladesh is following the same trajectory. Younger readers, in particular, consume news through smartphones rather than printed newspapers.
This shift has drastically reduced newspaper circulation in recent years. Many readers who once purchased printed newspapers daily now read free online editions or obtain updates through social media feeds. The economics of digital media, however, remain challenging. While online readership may grow rapidly, digital advertising revenue often fails to compensate for the losses experienced in print circulation.
The example of the British newspaper industry illustrates this global trend clearly. The Daily Mail, one of the United Kingdom’s most influential tabloids, reportedly sold close to two million printed copies daily around 2020. Now, however, print circulation of Daily Mail has sharply declined to nearly five hundred thousand copies. Although the newspaper remains enormously influential online, the reduction in print sales demonstrates how dramatically audience habits have changed worldwide. Similar declines have affected newspapers across Europe, North America, and Asia.
Bangladesh’s print industry faces even greater difficulties because of lower purchasing power, rising production costs and tagging newspapers with illegitimate political tinctures. The cost of newsprint, transportation, electricity and printing has increased substantially, while advertising revenue has weakened. In such conditions, political instability and administrative pressure can further destabilize already fragile media institutions.
The rise of social media has also transformed public discourse in complicated ways. On one hand, digital platforms provide instant access to information and enable citizen participation in public debates. On the other hand, they contribute to misinformation, rumor-driven politics, and online harassment campaigns. Journalists are now vulnerable not only to physical attacks but also to coordinated digital abuse. Political labeling, character assassination, and social media “tagging” can rapidly damage reputations and create public hostility toward reporters or media owners.
As the Editor of daily Bengali newspaper Dainik Deshkal, I am feeling very much uncertain whether I will be able to continue publishing the newspaper in days to come. We are facing challenges from state-run offices, certain political groups and a flock of morally perverted people who don’t want mass media to work independently in Bangladesh. Dainik Deshkal’s former Editor-in-Charge Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah was arrested in August 2025 for talking about the legality of Dr. Muhammad Yunus and the interim government. Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah has been released in the meantime but the fear about the prevalence of press freedom is still highly imposing. I never faced such gruesome situations threatening newspapers during my 20 years of professional engagement with print media.
The atmosphere of polarization during transitional political periods often intensifies these problems. Individuals associated with certain political narratives may become targets regardless of evidence or due process. This culture of suspicion weakens democratic norms because accusations replace institutional accountability. In such an environment, media entrepreneurs may fear investing in independent journalism, while reporters may avoid sensitive stories altogether.
A healthy democracy requires a press environment where journalists can investigate corruption, criticize policies, and report violence without fear of assault or retaliation. Equally important is the protection of media businesses from politically motivated harassment. Governments, whether elected or interim, must recognize that independent media is not an enemy of the state but a pillar of democratic stability.
Legal protection alone is insufficient unless accompanied by political tolerance and institutional neutrality. Law enforcement agencies must ensure the safety of journalists covering protests, elections, and violent incidents. Attacks on reporters should be investigated transparently, regardless of the political identity of perpetrators. Media owners should also be guaranteed fair treatment under the law, free from selective administrative pressure or politically driven campaigns.
At the same time, the media industry itself must adapt to changing realities. Newspapers can no longer rely solely on print circulation and government advertising. Sustainable journalism in the future will likely depend on diversified digital revenue, subscription models, multimedia storytelling, and stronger public trust. Quality journalism remains valuable even in the digital age, but media organizations must innovate to survive.
Bangladesh possesses a long and proud journalistic tradition. From the Language Movement to the Liberation War and later democratic struggles, journalists played an essential role in informing citizens and documenting national history. That legacy should not be weakened by violence, intimidation, or political hostility. The country’s future democratic health depends significantly on whether independent journalism can function freely and responsibly.
The challenges faced during the interim government period should therefore be understood not only as isolated incidents but as part of a broader struggle over democratic space, institutional trust, and freedom of expression. Allegations of assaults on journalists, pressure on media houses, mob violence, and politically motivated targeting created deep concern among observers. Combined with severe economic difficulties and the global decline of print media, these developments placed Bangladesh’s newspaper industry under extraordinary strain.
Yet crises can also create opportunities for reform. Policymakers, civil society organizations, media owners, and journalists themselves can work together to establish stronger protections for press freedom and more sustainable media economics. Transparency in government advertising policies, protection against violence, fair legal procedures, and support for digital transformation could help restore confidence in the sector.
The decline of printed newspapers does not necessarily mean the decline of journalism. What matters most is whether truth, accountability, and public interest reporting survive in whatever format audiences choose to consume news. Bangladesh now stands at a critical moment where the future of independent journalism will depend on how the nation responds to political pressure, economic hardship, and technological transformation.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is making the best of his efforts to establish good governance, integrity, socioeconomic justice and accountability but it has to be remembered these goals cannot be achieved with media professionals and newspapers plunged into perils.
Ultimately, the strength of a democracy is measured not by how it treats supportive voices, but by how it tolerates criticism and protects independent institutions. A society where journalists fear assault, media houses fear political retaliation, and citizens fear violence cannot fully achieve democratic stability. Safeguarding press freedom is therefore not merely a professional issue for journalists; it is a national responsibility tied directly to justice, transparency, and the future of democratic governance in Bangladesh.
Zakir Hossain Talukder is
Editor of daily Bengali
newspaper Deshkal.
