The pressure on independent media in Bangladesh is increasing day by day. The country’s biggest private TV channel Global TV Bangladesh has received a fire threat. This incident has spread a lot of concern among journalists.

This matter came to light when a few days ago the offices of two major newspapers of the country, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, were attacked and set on fire by a mob. On December 21, a group of some youth reached the office of Global TV located in Tejgaon area of ​​Dhaka. The group described itself as belonging to the ‘Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’ and demanded the removal of the channel’s Head of News Nazneen Munni.

Why was such a terrible threat given?

It was alleged that the youth warned that if Munni was not removed from the post, the channel’s office would also be burnt down, as happened recently with Prothom Alo and Daily Star. Nazneen Munni told in her Facebook post that she was not present in the office at the time of the incident. According to him, at around 8 pm, seven-eight youth met the channel’s managing director Ahmed Hussain. First, he objected to Global TV’s coverage in which the news of the death of Inquilab Manch spokesperson Sharif Usman Hadi was shown. Then accused Munni of being an Awami League supporter and demanded his removal.

What action did the channel take after the threat?

According to Munni, the youth asked the managing director to give a written promise to remove him within 48 hours. When they refused, the group allegedly repeated their threat to set them on fire. It is said that a staff member of the channel signed the paper under pressure, although the managing director did not do so. After the incident, the channel management advised Nazneen Munni not to come to office for a few days and remain silent. But Munni came out openly and said that it is not possible to remain silent now. He believes that this is a well-planned attempt to intimidate not just him but the entire media.

What did the organization say on the threat?

According to Prothom Alo’s report, Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’s central president Rifat Rashid admitted that a member of the organization’s city committee had gone to Global TV without permission. He said that the organization does not support any kind of violence or intimidation and a show-cause notice has been issued to the member concerned.

An atmosphere of fear spread among journalists

Nazneen Munni says that in the last few months many journalists have received threats, including Jamuna TV editor Roxana Anjuman Nicole. They allege that influential voices in the media are being targeted one by one, so that critical reporting can be suppressed.

Still waiting for official reaction

At present, no official statement has come from the Managing Director of Global TV or the government. But these continuous attacks and threats have raised big questions on the freedom of press in Bangladesh.