Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam warned that any attempt to disrupt religious harmony would not be tolerated. He made the remarks while handing over land allocation papers for three mosques and a temple in Khilkhet.
He explained that a Hindu temple was displaced during railway land recovery in the area, which was not respectful. To address this, the Railways Ministry allocated new land at its official rate. He also noted that instructions were issued to repair the stairs of Chattogram’s Chandranath Temple as per the temple authority’s request.

A Reuters journalist has resigned in protest following the killing of media workers in Israeli strikes on Gaza.

Valerie Zink, a contract journalist with Reuters for eight years, snapped her company ID card and posted its photo on Facebook, announcing her resignation. She accused the news agency of siding with Israel despite the brutal deaths of her colleagues.

Zink pointed out that slain journalist Anas al-Sharif, who once won Reuters a Pulitzer Prize, was falsely labeled as a Hamas member and terrorist in reports instead of being honored. Her resignation has sparked debate over media n

Advisor Md. Mahfuz Alam has expressed profound sorrow over the death of senior journalist Alamgir Mohiuddin.

In his condolence message, Alam prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family. He said, “Alamgir Mohiuddin practiced fearless, objective journalism. He was a role model for many in the profession. His passing is an irreparable loss to Bangladesh’s media.”

Mohiuddin, former editor of Daily Naya Diganta, breathed his last on Saturday afternoon while undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Several Reuters journalists have accused the agency’s editors and management of pro-Israel bias in coverage of the Gaza conflict.

The controversy escalated after Palestinian journalist Anas al-Sharif—formerly with Reuters and a Pulitzer Prize winner—was killed in an Israeli strike. Reuters’ headline described him as “an Al Jazeera journalist who Israel says was a Hamas commander,” sparking outrage among staff.

An internal review of 499 “Israel-Palestine” tagged stories revealed that Israeli perspectives were disproportionately highlighted, while Palestinian voices were marginalized. Journalists also said Reuters policies prohibited using the word “Palestine” except in pre-1948 historical contexts.

Criticism also centered on limited coverage of “genocide” accusations against Israel, while similar claims against Russia in Ukraine received prominent reporting.

Following backlash, Reuters issued new guidance allowing the term “genocide” if attributed to a source—but the restriction on “Palestine” largely remains. Journalists argue the revised policy still reflects pro-Israel bias.

The body of veteran journalist Bibhuranjan Sarkar was recovered from the Meghna River in Gazaria, Munshiganj, a day after he went missing. Police discovered his body floating in the river near Kalagachhia on Friday afternoon. His family later confirmed the identification.
Sarkar, a senior assistant editor at Dainik Ajker Patrika, left his Siddheshwari residence Thursday morning for his office but never arrived. His son filed a missing person’s report that night at Ramna Police Station. The discovery of his body has shocked Bangladesh’s journalism community.

A cheque distribution ceremony for state-funded films, scheduled for Wednesday at 3 PM, ended in frustration after Information Adviser Mahfuz Alam failed to arrive on time.
Journalists, invited by the Information Ministry, left the venue around 4:45 PM after waiting for nearly two hours. The program was initially delayed to 4 PM, but invitees and reporters had already gathered earlier.
As time passed, journalists grew impatient, with many criticizing the adviser’s repeated delays. He eventually arrived at 5 PM—15 minutes after the journalists left. The program concluded around 6 PM.

The July Revolutionary Journalist Alliance has demanded swift trials for those within the country's media who allegedly collaborated in the 2024 mass killings.

The group alleges that during the public uprising, over 1,400 students and citizens were brutally killed under the Hasina government. According to the Alliance, from 2008 to August 5, 2024, the Awami League and its allies carried out multiple massacres, with certain journalists, media outlets, and journalist organizations granting legitimacy to these crimes — from killings and enforced disappearances to other acts of repression.

The Alliance further claims that even now, these individuals are trying to justify the killings through media narratives. Despite repeated calls for investigations, there has been no visible progress in related cases. The organization is urging immediate action against those who collaborated in Sheikh Hasina’s crimes and against journalists who allegedly incited the administration during the 2024 uprising.

Additionally, the Alliance has identified a column by writer Mazharul Islam Babla in Dainik Ajker Patrika as being against the spirit of the uprising.

The Editors’ Council has strongly protested sweeping accusations made against the media at the “National Youth Conference 2025” organized by the NCP’s ‘National Youth Power.’
Conference speakers accused the media of attempting to tarnish the reputation of those involved in the mass uprising and of acting like “mouthpieces of intelligence agencies” reminiscent of Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian era.
In its statement, the Editors’ Council rejected these claims, stressing that the media played a vital role during the uprising, despite facing repression, harassment, and censorship during the Awami League’s 15-year rule.
It noted that journalists brought to light state violence, human rights abuses, internet blackouts, and other crucial issues, and that most print outlets actively helped shape public opinion in favor of the uprising while working under intense pressure and threats.

The Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) has expressed grave concern over the recent wave of attacks and killings targeting journalists in Bangladesh. The organization called for the immediate formation of a Judicial Commission to investigate all journalist murders, including those of Sagar and Runi.
While acknowledging initial optimism for press freedom under the interim government, DRU warned that the safety of journalists remains precarious. Attacks, false cases, torture, and killings of journalists have surged alarmingly. The brutal hacking to death of journalist Asaduzzaman Tuhin last Thursday night was described as a direct assault on press freedom and free expression. DRU said impunity and lack of security are key factors fueling such violence.

Asaduzzaman Tuhin (38), a journalist with Dainik Protidiner Kagoj, was hacked and killed in broad daylight Thursday night in the Chandana Chowrasta area of Gazipur.
He had posted a video on Facebook moments before the attack, criticizing pedestrian behavior in the city. Soon after, masked assailants attacked him with sharp weapons at a tea stall and slit his throat before fleeing.
Eyewitnesses say the attack followed Tuhin filming a group allegedly brandishing weapons. His body has been sent to the morgue, and police have opened an investigation.

Political analyst Dr. Ali Riaz has criticized the lack of civil society-led review of the last 16 years of political developments in Bangladesh. Speaking at a recent event, he questioned why journalist unions haven’t mobilized broader civil society efforts to examine this period.

Riaz stressed that politicians—not interim governments—should lead the country. “That’s the whole point of calling it an interim government,” he said. He also challenged journalists to reflect on their roles, asking whether they act as reporters or political agents.

He referenced a meeting held by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during the July movement with selected journalists, questioning the ethics of such interactions. “When media is used as a shield to protect business interests, independent journalism becomes impossible,” he added.

He criticized the partisan divide among journalists’ unions and noted that a politically motivated alternative to the Editors’ Council has emerged. Riaz also remarked that globally, transitions from authoritarianism to democracy often give rise to new social forces, sometimes leading to violent conflict—but Bangladesh, he noted, has experienced less violence by comparison.

Journalists and employees of Janakantha have issued a 24-hour ultimatum demanding over Tk 60 million in unpaid wages. At a protest outside the office on Sunday, members of the new editorial board—including Sabrina Binte Ahmed—denounced the management for exploiting staff and aligning the paper with the ruling party during the July Uprising.

They demanded justice for laid-off pro-July revolution journalists and announced a two-day suspension of the paper’s print edition. Editorial board member Zainal Abedin Shishir accused the management of unlawfully terminating 20 journalists, calling it a violation of press freedom.

Shafiqul Alam, former Press Secretary of the interim government and then head of AFP’s Bangladesh bureau, has revealed his personal concerns during the student uprising period.

Despite receiving warnings from international journalists about possible arrest, his primary worry was not imprisonment itself but the lack of access to a “high commode” toilet facility, which he required due to a knee injury.

In a recent Facebook post, he shared how the fear of being detained without adequate sanitary provisions continues to haunt him.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, seeking $1 billion in damages.

In the lawsuit, filed in Miami, Trump alleges that the publication falsely claimed he sent a controversial letter in 2003 for Jeffrey Epstein’s birthday. Trump contends the article damaged both his reputation and financial interests.

The suit names not only the journalists involved but also Dow Jones, News Corp, and CEO Robert Thomson as defendants. Trump described the legal action as a step not just for himself but on behalf of the American people against what he calls the “fake news media.”

Two leading Pakistani TV channels, Geo News and ARY, have retracted reports claiming former U.S. President Donald Trump would visit Pakistan this September. Geo News issued an apology for publishing the unverified information.

Reuters confirmed the White House has no such visit planned. The channels had initially reported the visit as confirmed, prompting a denial from Pakistan’s Foreign Office. The last official U.S. presidential visit to Pakistan was made by George W. Bush in 2006.