Activists have condemned the Jamaat-controlled interim government as a Dhaka court on Thursday denied bail to outspoken journalist Anis Alamgir, prolonging his detention under draconian anti-terrorism laws.
The order, issued by Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md. Alamgir, has ignited fresh outrage from human rights groups, press freedom advocates, and civil society, who accuse the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus of systematically suppressing dissent in a manner reminiscent of fascist regimes.
Anis Alamgir’s case is seen as emblematic of a broader crackdown aimed at silencing critics ahead of the February 12 elections, where the banned Awami League has been entirely sidelined.
The bail hearing took place at Dhaka’s First Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court, where Alamgir’s lawyer, Taslima Jahan Popy, argued that her client is “completely innocent” and has been implicated solely for harassment purposes. “Anis Alamgir is not a member of any political party; rather, he is a distinguished journalist, writer, intellectual, and educator,” Popy stated, emphasizing the lack of specific evidence in the First Information Report (FIR) and asserting that the charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) do not apply to him. Despite these pleas, state prosecutors opposed the bail, leading the court to reject the petition after hearing both sides.
Amnesty demands release of journalist Anis Alamgir, end to suppression
Arrest of journalist Anis Alamgir sparks outcry over press freedom
Detectives whisk away journalist Anis Alamgirโa critic of Yunus and Jamaat
Anis Alamgir, a veteran reporter celebrated for his frontline coverage of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and his tenure as president of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association Bangladesh, was arrested on December 15, 2025, by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police while at a gym in Dhanmondi. He was initially held overnight without charges before being formally shown arrested in a case filed the previous day at Uttara West Police Station.
The FIR, lodged by Aryan Ahmedโan organizer of the โJuly Revolutionary Alliance,โ the student group patronized by Adviser Mostafa Sarwar Farooqi and instrumental in Yunus’ ascent to powerโaccuses Alamgir and others, including actress Meher Afroz Shaon, of using social media posts and television talk shows to “rehabilitate” the Awami League since August 5, 2024, when Sheikh Hasina fled amid anti-discrimination protests.
According to the complaint, the defendants allegedly spread propaganda to revive the now-banned Awami League, thereby encouraging its members to destabilise the state. A Dhaka magistrate granted a five-day police remand on December 15โshort of the seven days requestedโduring which Alamgir defiantly told the court: “I am a journalist. I question those in power. I have been doing this for two decades. My job is not to bow to anyone.” He further remarked that if Yunus desired, “he can turn the entire country into a prison,” a pointed critique that underscores the regime’s alleged tyrannical tendencies. Following the remand, Alamgir was sent to jail on December 20, where he remains incarcerated.
Press Freedom Under Siege: Anis Alamgir slams Yunus regimeโs injustice
Anis Alamgir: Jamaatโs apology a trick to evade accountability for 1971 genocide
Rahmani At Shahbagh: A disgraceful display of extremist mobilisation for Osman Hadi
The denial of bail comes amid mounting international and domestic pressure for Alamgir’s immediate release. London-based Amnesty International, in a statement on December 17, 2025, demanded his freedom, describing his arrest as part of an “alarming trend of individuals being targeted for being perceived to support” the Awami League. Rehab Mahamoor, Amnesty’s South Asia researcher, urged the interim government to cease “misusing anti-terror legislation to silence people expressing their views and opinions” and to uphold obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. “The interim government must respect its obligations… and immediately release Anis Alamgir,” the statement read.
Echoing these calls, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the charges as baseless and called for Alamgir’s unconditional release, highlighting the Yunus administration’s use of national security pretexts to muzzle the press.
Domestically, the Editorsโ Council likened the arrest to “state repression during past authoritarian regimes,” while rights group Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) decried it as a “blatant assault on constitutional freedoms.” The Canada-based Global Centre for Democratic Governance (GCDG) reported a staggering 550% surge in criminal cases against journalistsโfrom August 2024 to July 2025โtotalling 195 filings, with 878 instances of harassment. Over 292 journalists have been implicated in mass probes involving charges like murder and genocide linked to the 2024 protests, resulting in 39 arrests and 13 ongoing imprisonments.
Public sentiment on social media platforms reflects widespread accusations of fascism. They say that grabbing Anis Alamgir under an anti-terror law isnโt about security โ itโs about silencing anyone suspected of not echoing the new power line, warning that Bangladesh is “sliding fast” into criminalising journalism.
Critics argue that Alamgir’s detention is tied to the regime’s relaunch of “Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2” in mid-December 2025, a sweeping purge that arrested over 1,000 individuals in its first day alone, ostensibly to recover arms but effectively targeting Awami League sympathisers.
Since amending the ATA in May 2025 to ban the Awami Leagueโ a move blasted by Human Rights Watch as entrenching repressionโthe Yunus government has weaponised laws against journalists, revoking over 160 press accreditations, 83 press club memberships, and freezing 18 bank accounts. More than 1,000 journalists have lost jobs under duress, with 431 facing physical threats.
Anis Alamgir’s case has also drawn scrutiny over additional allegations. Recent reports indicate the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) plans to sue him for amassing Tk3.26 crore in illegal wealth, further fueling claims of judicial harassment. Concerns about his health in custody have surfaced, with activists highlighting court orders for medical care being ignored.
As Bangladesh hurtles toward elections, the Yunus regime’s actionsโlabelled “mobocracy” by detractorsโraise alarms about a chilling climate of fear. “This is not governance; it’s fascism disguised as interim rule,” said one activist, echoing global calls for accountability. With press freedom under siege, Anis Alamgir’s plight symbolises a nation where questioning power is equated with terrorism, threatening the very foundations of democracy.
English 
Bengali