South Asia media groups express solidarity with journalists, condemn attacks on Bangladesh and Nepal media, demand accountability

The South Asia Peace Action Network (Sapan), the South Asia Media Defenders Network (SAMDEN), Sapan News, Rural Media Network Pakistan, and others strongly condemn the attacks, vandalism and arson in Dhaka, Bangladesh, that targeted the offices of the Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, and the physical assault on the President of the Editors Council and veteran journalist and Editor of New Age Nurul Kabir.

We appreciate the statements from the Press Club of India and the Karachi Press Club expressing deep concern and strong condemnation of the violence.

It is disturbing to hear that more than 100 journalists in Bangladesh have been detained and remain behind bars without trial. We demand their immediate and unconditional release.

Just three months ago, media houses in Nepal came under similar fire, including mob attacks on the Kantipur Group buildings, the Annapurna Post, and Image TV. Journalists from various media groups were attacked physically and virtually. Even earlier, a young photojournalist, Suresh Rajak of Avenews TV, died in an arson attack on March 28, 2025, while reporting from a building in Tinkune, Kathmandu.The perpetrators remain unidentified and unaccountable.

Violence, intimidation, attacks orharassment aimed at silencing the media are unacceptable and violate the right to media freedom, the constitutional right to freedom of expression, and rule of law.

We call upon the governments concerned to ensure that perpetrators are identified and brought to justice through a fair, impartial and speedy investigation into the incidents of arson, violence and intimidation.

The statement has been endorsed by media professionals and concerned citizens around the region

Signatories include:

Beena Sarwar, founder editor Sapan News, co-founder, curator Southasia Peace Action Network, Boston

Kanak Mani Dixit, founder and former editor Himal Southasian, Kathmandu

Sanjoy Hazarika, independent columnist and author

Dilrukshi Handunneti, investigative journalist and lawyer, Sri Lanka

Nirupama Subramanian, journalist, former editor, Chennai

Farman Ali, Chief Editor, The High Asia Herald and former News Editor, Dawn Islamabad

Husain Naqi, senior journalist, former Editor, Lahore

Antara Dev Sen, founder editor, The Little Magazine, New Delhi

Bala Chauhan, senior editor, The New Indian Express

Tahira Abdullah, democracy and rights activist, Islamabad

Anuradha Bhasin, managing Editor, Kashmir times

Amit Sengupta, Editor, independentink.in, New Delhi

Asmatullah Niazi, broadcast journalist, Islamabad

Bachi Karkaria, columnist, Mumbai

Vineeta Pandey, Senior Editor, The Asian Age-Deccan Chronicle, New Delhi

Neeta Kolhatkar, journalist, Mumbai

Monideepa Banerjie, journalist, Kolkata

Deepal Trivedi, independent journalist, co-founder: vibesofindia.com, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Maya Sharma, independent journalist, Bengaluru, India

Stella Paul, journalist, Hyderabad, India

Pamela Philipose, journalist, New Delhi

Wajahat Masood, broadcast journalist, Lahore

Niaz Murtaza, journalist, Islamabad

Nilova Roy Chaudhury, independent journalist, New Delhi

Radhika Ramaseshan, political journalist and columnist, New Delhi

Source: SAMDEN