Staff Correspondence; Dhaka– Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), stated on Friday that the nature of attacks on media outlets in Bangladesh over the past year and a half is “unprecedented in world history.”
Speaking at the opening of the two-day “Bangladesh Journalism Conference” at the Radisson Blu Water Garden, the TIB chief highlighted that major media institutions were attacked in broad daylight following August 2024.
He expressed deep regret over the “passive role” of law enforcement and security forces, noting that many of these attacks were announced in advance, yet no effective measures were taken to prevent them.
Dr. Iftekharuzzaman also pointed out a troubling internal trend within the industry, noting that some lawyers, activists, and even fellow media personnel appeared to “rejoice” in these attacks.
He urged the conference to address both external threats and internal systemic issues.
Providing global context, he noted that over 500 journalists have died in the line of duty over the last decade, including 26 in Bangladesh.
The conference, organized by MRDI to mark its 25th anniversary, features 547 participants and experts from 10 countries, including the USA, UK, Canada, and India.