361 Journalists Imprisoned Worldwide, Four in Bangladesh
- Update Time : 04:34:16 am, Saturday, 18 January 2025
- / 409 Time View
In 2024, four journalists were imprisoned in Bangladesh, all reportedly close associates of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina’s 15-year rule ended in August last year following a mass uprising. The U.S.-based nonprofit Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) highlighted these details in its 2024 prison census report, released on its website Friday. The report noted that after the fall of Hasina’s government, dozens of journalists known to support her became targets of criminal investigations.
As of December 1, 2024, CPJ recorded 361 imprisoned journalists globally, with China leading the list at 50 detainees, followed by Israel with 43, all of whom are Palestinian. Bangladesh ranks 14th in CPJ’s global ranking, with four jailed journalists, while neighboring India is 15th, with three imprisoned, including two arrested in Kashmir in 2023. Afghanistan, by comparison, reported fewer incarcerations, with two journalists detained.
The report further revealed that among the imprisoned journalists in 2024, one was sentenced to death, 10 received life sentences, 54 were handed sentences exceeding 10 years, and 55 were given five to 10 years. Political reporters were most frequently targeted. Myanmar ranked third with 35 jailed journalists, followed by Belarus with 31 and Russia with
30.
