Fire Her or We Burn the Office: Bangladesh TV Channel Faces Open Threats Amid Press Freedom Crisis

Pressure on Bangladesh’s independent media intensified further this week after Global TV Bangladesh became the latest news organisation to face open intimidation. The incident comes just days after violent attacks on the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star triggered global concern over press freedom in the country.

Earlier this week, a group of young men arrived at Global TV’s office in Dhaka and issued a chilling ultimatum: remove Naznin Munni, the channel’s chief of news, or the organisation would meet the same fate as other targeted media houses. Naznin Munni, a prominent journalist and television anchor, was accused by the group of having links with the Awami League.

According to accounts shared by the journalist, the men warned that if their demand was ignored, they would “set fire to the office,” explicitly referencing the recent arson and vandalism of leading Bangladeshi newspapers. The threat has been widely condemned as another sign of shrinking space for dissent and independent journalism.

The individuals claimed to represent the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, a group that played a major role in last year’s nationwide protests. However, the organisation has publicly distanced itself from the incident. Its president, Rifat Rashid, stated that those responsible were not acting on the group’s behalf and assured that disciplinary action would follow.

The confrontation took place on December 21, just three days after Bangladesh witnessed renewed unrest following the killing of youth activist Sharif Osman Hadi. His death sparked violent protests that included attacks on media outlets accused by agitators of ideological bias.

In a Facebook post, Naznin Munni revealed that seven to eight individuals visited Global TV’s Tejgaon office and issued the threat in her absence. She described the incident as part of a broader and alarming pattern of harassment aimed at journalists and independent media organisations.

“Around seven to eight people came to my office in the name of the city unit of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and threatened that if I do not quit my job, they will set fire to the office like Prothom Alo and The Daily Star,” Naznin wrote, underlining the seriousness of the threat.

Accusations of Political Affiliation

Speaking to Prothom Alo, Naznin said she was not present at the office during the confrontation. She explained that the group met with the managing director and expressed anger over what they described as inadequate coverage of Sharif Osman Hadi’s death.

Hadi, 32, was a controversial figure who gained prominence during the 2024 student uprising that eventually led to the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Known for his strong anti-India rhetoric, Hadi was shot by unidentified assailants on motorcycles earlier this month and later succumbed to his injuries.

According to Naznin, the men demanded to know why she was still employed at Global TV. “Why have you kept Naznin Munni? She supports the Awami League. She cannot be kept here. Take her out,” they allegedly told the managing director.

The managing director reportedly pushed back, clarifying that Naznin had no affiliation with the Awami League, a party that has been barred from contesting the upcoming elections. Despite this, the group remained unconvinced.

They demanded a written assurance that Naznin would be removed from her position within 48 hours. When the managing director refused to sign any such document, tensions escalated further.

“They became furious,” Naznin recounted. “They said, ‘We will get what we want. Prothom Alo and The Daily Star were helpless. You are nothing compared to them.’”

Media watchdogs and rights activists warn that such threats signal a dangerous slide toward intimidation-driven censorship. With journalists increasingly being targeted over perceived political positions, Bangladesh’s commitment to free expression is once again under intense international scrutiny.