Bangladesh: Journalist killed in violent targeted attack

Bangladeshi journalist Khandaker Shah Alam was violently attacked and killed on June 25 in Nabinagar Upazila, in Dhaka's northeast, in a targeted retaliation for his reporting. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate, the Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum (BMSF), strongly condemn his killing and urge the authorities to intensify efforts to protect journalists in Bangladesh and ensure they can work without fear of violence or reprisal.

Bangladeshi journalist Khandaker Shah Alam was killed on June 25 in a targeted retaliation for his reporting. Credit: X

Alam, a Nabinagar Upazila correspondent for the Bangla-language newspaper Daily Matrijagat, succumbed to his injuries after being assaultedby a former prisoner, Babul Mia, known locally as 'Tiger Babul Dakat', in alleged retaliation for Alam's reporting on his earlier arrest. Mia, who is implicatedin multiple robbery cases, was released from prison earlier that day.

Following a public confrontation between Alam and Mia in an open street, during which the journalist's mobile phone and personal belongings were stolen, Alam met again with Mia to recover his possessions later that afternoon. A subsequent second confrontation escalated into a violent assault, during which Mia repeatedly punched and kicked the journalist in the chest, leaving him unconscious. Alam was rushed to Nabinagar Health Complex, where he succumbed to his injuries upon arrival.

Local residents apprehendedMia immediately after the attack, delivering him to police custody following a brief confrontation. Mia has since been arrested and charged with manslaughter and is currently receiving medical treatment under police guard.

The IFJ's South Asia Press Freedom Report 2024-25, which documents media rights violations in the region from May 1, 2024, to April 30, 2025, recorded 6 killings of journalists in Bangladesh amidst a turbulent political transition following the ousting of authoritarian Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The IFJ has continually called for all states to adopt the IFJ-led International Convention on the Safety and Independence of Journalists and Other Media Professionalsaimed at providing greater protection for media workers and journalism in the face of escalating violence and threats.

The BMSF said: "BMSF strongly condemns this murder case. We demand the immediate arrest of the perpetrators and call for legal action to be brought against them."

The IFJ said: "The IFJ strongly condemns the targeted killing of journalist Khandaker Shah Alam. Bangladesh continues to be one of the region's most hostile environments for media workers, with intimidation, harassment, and violent attacks remaining widespread during the interim government period. This latest assault is a stark reminder of the urgent need to protect media workers and hold the perpetrators fully accountable."