The body of veteran journalist Bibhuranjan Sarkar has been recovered in the Meghna River in Munshiganj District, central Bangladesh, after the journalist was subject to recurring intimidation by local authorities. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate, the Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum (BMSF), call on the interim government to take immediate action to protect journalists and guarantee they can report without intimidation or reprisal. Veteran journalist Bibhuranjan Sarkar was found dead in the Meghna River in central Bangladesh after being subject to repeated intimidation by authorities. He further stated the intimidation he experienced continued after his removal from Ajker Patrika and that repeated attempts to contact the editor went unanswered. The BMSF and senior journalists have called for an independent judicial inquiry into Sarkar’s death, noting a strong concern at the culture of impunity for crimes against journalists in Bangladesh.
