In a statement, the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) has called for a five-day holiday for media outlets during Eid-ul-Azha, arguing that the current three-day leave is discriminatory. Citing the government-declared public holiday from June 5 to June 14, DRU noted that newspaper hawkers also cease operations during this period. The statement, signed by DRU President Abu Saleh Akon and General Secretary Mainul Hasan Sohel, urges the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) to address the issue.

Md. Moniruzzaman, a journalist for the daily Kalbela from Kaliakair, Gazipur, has been missing for two days. His mobile phone is switched off. His wife, Salma Akter, has filed a general diary with the police. Moniruzzaman reportedly left for Dhaka on Tuesday morning in a private car accompanied by Abdullah Al Mamun, the car’s driver Niranjan Sarker, and an unidentified individual. Around 5 PM, he contacted his wife and informed her that he had reached Dhaka. Since then, he has not returned home. The mobile phones of both Mamun and Sarker are also unreachable. It has been reported that a relative received a phone call demanding BDT 50,000 for Moniruzzaman’s return.

Press Council Chairman Justice AKM Abdul Hakim urged media professionals to remain neutral and avoid sensationalism and unethical journalism. “The media is the fourth pillar of democracy. Its core duty is to present objective, impartial news,” he said. He emphasized that journalists must act professionally, without personal bias, and follow their organization's editorial guidelines. He also warned against media trials and stressed respect for the judiciary.

Press Secretary Shafiqur Alam stated that although 266 murder cases have been filed against journalists since August 5, the government cannot be held responsible for them. He added that any attempt to protest false or misleading news is often misconstrued as an attack on press freedom. “The interim government is committed to institutionalizing press freedom,” he said. He encouraged media outlets to acknowledge past mistakes and regain public trust. The government, he noted, is also working to ensure journalist safety and expedite the accreditation process. “Journalism should be rooted in facts, not personal ideology,” he added.

India has blocked six Bangladeshi television channels on YouTube, citing national security concerns. According to Fayez Ahmad Tayyab, special assistant to the Chief Adviser for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and IT, the Bangladeshi government will seek an explanation from YouTube. “If we don’t receive a clear justification, retaliatory steps will be considered,” he warned. Disinfo Lab reported that channels including Jamuna TV, Ekattor TV, Banglavision, Mohona TV, Somoy TV, and DBC News are currently inaccessible from India.

Citing national security concerns, Indian authorities requested YouTube to block access to four Bangladeshi television channels—Jamuna TV, Ekattor TV, Banglavision, and Mohona TV—from Indian territory. Users in India attempting to access these channels now see a message stating the content is restricted due to government orders. Independent Indian media outlet The Wire was also reportedly blocked. Platform X revealed that the Indian government ordered the blocking of over 8,000 accounts, some belonging to independent media.

Adviser Mahfuz Alam announced that the licensing of media outlets during the former government’s tenure will undergo investigation. He accused the previous administration of manipulating media to justify abductions, extrajudicial killings, and other abuses. Alam also urged media outlets not to produce content that supports fascism. He criticized some outlets for labeling the July uprising as a movement and for referring to the current government as a transitional regime. “More people were killed in Bangladesh between July 19 and August 5 last year than in Gaza during the same period,” he said.

Adviser Mahfuz Alam called for greater accountability in the media, proposing a fact-finding review of media activities over the past 15 years. “We are working to implement a journalist protection law,” he said. He also advocated for a national broadcasting body covering state media like radio, BTV, and BSS, and emphasized setting fair government advertisement rates. Media Reform Commission head Kamal Ahmed echoed the need for financial safeguards, warning that corruption among journalists won’t stop without fair compensation.

Kamal Ahmed, head of the Media Reform Commission, stated that they have proposed a permanent media commission and a journalist protection law, with drafts already submitted. “So far, we haven’t seen much initiative from the government,” he said. He criticized past governments for issuing TV licenses based on political loyalty instead of journalistic merit. Addressing opposition to public limited company models for media, he noted, “More than a dozen media houses are profitable—this is achievable.”

Former Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Anwarullah Chowdhury revealed that he received death threats during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure for criticizing fascism. Before August 5, he was warned at home to stop making anti-government speeches or risk being shot by armed student activists. He condemned the establishment of BAKSAL and media censorship, crediting Ziaur Rahman for restoring press freedom. Editor Mahmudur Rahman warned of a return to fascism and growing Indian influence in Bangladesh, urging public vigilance.

Journalists Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi were murdered, not victims of suicide, according to a progress report submitted to the High Court. The taskforce revealed that two individuals were involved, with Sagar killed first, followed by Runi. Both were in bed with their child before the attack. Due to unclear DNA evidence, the killers remain unidentified. No signs of marital discord, theft, or professional rivalry were found. The murder weapons—a knife and a cleaver from the kitchen—were used while the victims were still alive.

The Express Tribune reports that Indian journalist Archana Tiwari’s investigation highlighted inconsistencies in the official narrative of the Pahalgam incident. Tiwari questioned whether the alleged attack on a newlywed couple and the husband’s reported death were fabricated. A Kashmiri driver confirmed, “Yes, it’s all false. The husband is alive—it was all staged.” She further asked if videos of the widow and a traumatized child were also fake. The driver replied, “Yes, it's all political theater. How could terrorists firing from 10 kilometers away ask about the victims’ religion?”

Adviser Mahfuz Alam stated that all media in Bangladesh, including state outlets like Bangladesh Betar and BTV, now operate free from government interference. “No government official is calling media houses to influence reporting,” he said. He credited government initiatives for the country’s 16-place jump in the World Press Freedom Index. Alam noted that additional reforms, based on the Media Reform Commission's recommendations, will be introduced soon. He expressed optimism that Bangladesh will continue to improve in next year’s rankings while safeguarding media and journalist rights.

Bangladesh has made notable progress in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, rising 16 places to rank 149th among 180 countries with a score of 33.71, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Last year, Bangladesh was placed at 165th. Among its South Asian neighbors, India ranks 151st, Pakistan 158th, and Bhutan 152nd—all trailing behind Bangladesh. However, Nepal (90th), Sri Lanka (139th), and the Maldives (104th) continue to outperform Bangladesh in the index.

Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has clarified that neither he nor the ‘July’ movement had any direct or indirect involvement in the recent termination of three journalists. In a statement, Farooki responded to claims made during a recent press conference, where the journalists questioned whether a killer could be called a killer—remarks Farooki deemed hurtful to anyone sensitive to the events of July. He emphasized that each media outlet has its own editorial policies and that any employment decisions are internal matters. “Some are suggesting their jobs were lost because they questioned me. That’s laughable,” Farooki wrote, asserting, “This is not about me—it’s about July and the policies of their institutions.”