Islamic preacher Syed Muhammad Enayetullah Abbasi has been served with a legal notice over alleged threats to beat journalists. The notice was sent on October 25, 2026, by Supreme Court lawyer Khademul Islam on behalf of Azharul Islam Sujon, an executive committee member of the Court Reporters Unity, an association of journalists working in lower courts.
Abbasi has been asked to withdraw his remarks and issue an unconditional apology within seven days of receiving the notice. Otherwise, legal action will be taken under applicable laws over alleged derogatory remarks against journalists and the journalism profession, defamation, threats of physical assault and incitement, according to the notice.
The notice states that Abbasi made the remarks on October 19 at an annual religious gathering and prayer event at Nishchintapur Hafizia Madrasa in Matlab, Chandpur.
During his speech, Abbasi reportedly said, “Bangladeshi journalists are the worst. They should be beaten like dogs.”
He also alleged that a young man serving as a state minister had attempted to dismantle a drug syndicate using his own force, but journalists had failed to report the positive aspects of the initiative. Instead, they had focused on reports of the minister running with a pistol.
“Journalists are dangerous. They practise yellow journalism. They are funded by foreign intelligence agencies. They do not want Bangladesh to prosper,” Abbasi reportedly said.
The legal notice further states that the remarks amounted to a threat of physical violence against journalists by Abbasi and his followers, creating an intimidating environment for the media. It argues that his statements were derogatory and defamatory towards professional journalists and the journalism profession and posed a threat to journalists’ safety.