Using public anger as a tool before elections is a concern: Irene Khan

UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan, has expressed deep alarm over recent mob attacks on leading media outlets and cultural institutions in Bangladesh.

She warned that weaponising public anger against journalists and artists is dangerous at any time, but particularly concerning as the country approaches national elections scheduled for February 12, 2026. Such actions could have a chilling effect on media freedom, minority voices, and dissenting opinions, with severe implications for democracy.

Khan issued her statement following arson, vandalism, and assaults on the offices of prominent newspapers The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, as well as the Chhayanaut cultural centre. An attack was also reported on the editor of New Age.

These incidents occurred amid widespread protests triggered by the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a key youth leader in the July 2024 uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hadi, shot in broad daylight on December 12, 2025, succumbed to his injuries on December 18 while receiving treatment in Singapore.

"I strongly condemn the targeted killing of an inspiring leader as well as the orchestrated mob violence against independent journalists and artists which followed the announcement of his death," Khan said. She called for prompt, effective investigations into the attacks and for perpetrators to be brought to justice without delay.

The UN expert emphasised that these incidents are not isolated but stem from the interim government's failure to tackle a persistent culture of impunity and to safeguard media and artistic freedoms. Over the past year—since August 5, 2024—freedom of expression in Bangladesh has faced intense pressure from both state and non-state actors, both online and offline.

Hundreds of journalists have faced politically motivated arrests on serious charges, including murder and terrorism, often leading to prolonged arbitrary detention.

"If the interim government is to fulfill its commitment to delivering safe and fair elections, it must uphold rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly," Khan added. "Journalists, human rights defenders, civil society leaders, political candidates, women, and minorities must be able to exercise their fundamental rights without fear of reprisal."