DHAKA, September 15, 2026 — The Bangladesh government must immediately reinstate the press accreditation card of broadcast journalist Habibur Rahman and cease penalizing reporters for asking questions or conducting investigative reporting, Bangladesh Media Monitor (BDMM) said in a statement.
BDMM expressed deep concern and strong condemnation over the summary revocation of the Channel One journalist’s credentials without providing any specific justification in its official statement regarding the incident that was published on its social media handles in both Bangla and English on Tuesday.
According to a news report, the administrative penalty against Rahman was executed by the Press Information Department (PID) following directives from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) after the journalist questioned government officials in a responsible forum and pursued investigative leads.
BDMM stressed that asking questions on matters of public interest, seeking information, and delivering objective facts to the public are core professional duties of the press. Imposing administrative sanctions on journalists for exercising these duties directly violates the fundamental tenets of free and responsible journalism and undermines the democratic framework.
The organization called on the relevant authorities to immediately restore Habibur Rahman’s press accreditation card and take concrete steps to guarantee an environment where journalists can freely question power and conduct investigative reporting without fear of retaliation.
The Press Wing of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) did not respond to BDMM’s phone calls seeking comment.
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