The arrest of senior journalist Anis Alamgir under the Anti-Terrorism Act has triggered widespread condemnation from civil society, human rights activists, and media bodies, who warn of a shrinking space for freedom of expression under the interim government.
On Victory Day, as Bangladesh reflects on its 1971 Liberation War, the incident has drawn parallels to the repressive tactics of past regimes.
Alamgir, a prominent war correspondent known for his coverage of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts and former president of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association Bangladesh, was picked up by Detective Branch (DB) police from a gym in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area on Sunday evening (December 14). He was initially detained without specific charges and interrogated overnight at the DB office on Minto Road.
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The following day, Aryan Ahmed, a central organizer of the July Revolutionary Alliance—a group formed to uphold the spirit of the 2024 student-led uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina—filed a case at Uttara West Police Station accusing Alamgir and four others, including actress Meher Afroz Shaon, fashion model Maria Kisspotta, and presenter Imtu Ratish Imtiaz, of conspiring to destabilize the state.
The complaint alleges that since August 5, 2024, the accused have spread propaganda on social media and TV talk shows to rehabilitate the banned Awami League, inciting restricted organisations like Chhatra League and Jubo League to anti-state activities.
DB chief Md Shafiqul Islam confirmed Alamgir’s arrest in the case, and a Dhaka court granted a five-day remand (police sought seven) for further interrogation. During the hearing, Alamgir rejected the charges, telling the court: “If Dr. Yunus wants, he can turn the entire country into a prison.” He emphasised his role as a journalist questioning power for over two decades.
Widespread Condemnation
The Editors’ Council, in a statement by President Nurul Kabir and General Secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud, strongly condemned the detention without initial charges and subsequent filing under anti-terror laws, calling it reminiscent of “state repression against journalists during past authoritarian regimes,” including the AL era’s false cases and arbitrary arrests.
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Human rights group Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) termed it a “misuse of the law” and an attack on constitutional freedom of expression, demanding immediate withdrawal of the case. Activists like Nur Khan Liton and Rezaur Rahman Lenin highlighted procedural violations, such as arrest without prior notice under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, and criticised the Anti-Terrorism Act as a tool for suppressing dissent.
Journalist Manzurul Alam Panna compared it to his own past arrests, questioning the interim government’s claims of a “golden era” for media while alleging mob-influenced detentions. Ahmed Swapan Mahmud of VOICE emphasised that journalists cannot be arrested for speaking out.
Civil society figures expressed fears that such actions create a climate of fear, stifling criticism and echoing the “dictatorial” practices the 2024 revolution sought to end.
Broader Context of Post-Revolution Tensions
The arrest comes amid heightened pre-election security under “Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2,” targeting perceived AL remnants labelled “fascists.” The interim government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, has faced criticism for banning the AL in May 2025 and pursuing cases against Hasina and her associates.
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The party’s Victory Day message accused the current administration of reviving “defeated forces of 1971” through anarchy and attacks on liberation war symbols. As February 2026 polls approach without AL participation, incidents like Alamgir’s arrest—seen by critics as punishing government criticism—underscore deepening divides.
Rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, have previously flagged a “new crackdown” on dissent. With elections looming, observers warn that suppressing voices risks undermining the democratic gains of the 2024 uprising, often hailed as a “second independence.” The Jamaat-controlled interim government, led by US deep state puppet Muhammad Yunus, has yet to respond officially to the backlash.
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