Staff Reporter: The National Press Club, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) on Monday (July 7, 2025) issued a joint statement expressing condemnation, protest, and concern over threats and unwarranted interference in the media.
Expressing deep concern over the threat made by a leader of the July movement against the media, National Press Club President Hasan Hafiz and General Secretary Aiyub Bhuiyan stated in the release that threatening the media and the trend of filing attempted murder cases against media workers are contrary to the spirit of the July Uprising.
One of the main causes behind the bloody mass uprising of July was to ensure freedom of speech and press. Issuing threats to the media stands as a barrier and interference to that goal.
The statement further added that if anyone is aggrieved by the role of the media, there are appropriate forums such as the Press Council for redress. Legal measures through the courts are also available under existing laws. However, such threats hinder the establishment, practice, and development of democratic culture in the country.
Meanwhile, BFUJ Acting President Obaidur Rahman Shaheen and Secretary General Kader Gani Chowdhury, along with DUJ President Shahidul Islam and General Secretary Khurshid Alam, issued a joint statement condemning and protesting the threats and unwarranted interference in the media.
In their statement, they said that during the despotic regime of Sheikh Hasina, one of the key aims of the July Uprising was to reclaim suppressed freedoms. Departing from that spirit, some prominent leaders of the July movement are now engaged in vilifying and threatening journalists. Preventing the media from flourishing independently through such threats is utterly unwarranted and unacceptable.
They specifically referenced the threat made by a top leader of the NCP in Rajshahi on Sunday, describing it as a direct threat to independent journalism.
The journalist leaders stated, “In the words of that NCP leader, we hear the footsteps of fascism. It must be remembered that students and people did not give their lives during the July Uprising to justify threats or mob justice against journalists.”
Addressing the NCP leader who made the threat, the journalist leaders added, “Let us remind you that over 60 journalists were murdered during the fallen fascist regime. During the July Revolution alone, six journalists were martyred while on duty. Moreover, during the student movement of July-August, journalists actively participated in street protests in solidarity.”
They further stated that ensuring freedom of expression and the independence of the press was a key aim of the bloody July Uprising by students and citizens. The threat issued by the NCP leader goes against the very spirit of that revolution. Such behavior was not expected from a student leader of the July Uprising.
BFUJ and DUJ leaders reiterated that, as traditional platforms for protecting journalists’ rights and freedom of expression, they have never accepted such unjust and unlawful interference in the past and will not accept it now.
If anyone has complaints or objections about the role of the media, they can seek remedies through the law, the courts, or the Press Council. But the tendency to take the law into one’s own hands is condemnable. The concerned parties are urged to refrain from such actions.
