Six months after a mass uprising ousted the increasingly autocratic administration of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladeshi journalists continue to be threatened and attacked for their work, along with facing new fears that planned legislation could undermine press freedom.

The international organisation Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which works to safeguard journalists' rights, highlighted these findings in a report, published on CPJ's website yesterday.

The report said CPJ has documented a recent spate of beatings, criminal investigations, and harassment of journalists for their work.

A group of 10 to 12 men attacked Shohag Khan Sujon, a correspondent for daily Samakal newspaper, after he and three other journalists investigated allegations of medical negligence at a hospital in central Shariatpur district on February 3, said in the report.

It said Sujon told CPJ that a clinic owner held the journalist's legs as the assailants hit his left ear with a hammer and stabbed his back with a knife. The three other correspondents -- Nayon Das of Bangla TV, Bidhan Mojumder Oni of News 24 Television, and Saiful Islam Akash of Desh TV -- were attacked with hammers when they tried to intervene; the attack ended as locals chased the perpetrators away.

In a separate incident on the same day, around 10 masked men used bamboo sticks to beat four newspaper correspondents -- Md Rafiqul Islam of Khoborer Kagoj, Abdul Malak Nirob of Amar Barta, Md Alauddin of Daily Amar Somoy, and Md Foysal Mahmud of Daily Alokito Sakal -- while they traveled to a village in southern Laximpur district to report on a land dispute, Islam told CPJ.

The attackers stole the journalists' cameras, mobile phones, and wallets and fired guns towards the group, causing shrapnel injuries to Mahmud's left ear and leg, Islam said.

Shafiur Rahman, a British freelance documentary filmmaker of Bangladeshi origin, told CPJ he received an influx of threatening emails and social media comments after publishing a January 30 article about a meeting between the leadership of Bangladesh's National Security Intelligence and the armed group Rohingya Solidarity Organisation.

Multiple emails warned Rahman to "stop or suffer the consequences" and "back off before it's too late."

"The nature of these threats suggests an orchestrated campaign to silence me, and I fear potential real-world repercussions if I continue my work on the ground," Shafiur Rahman said.

Four journalists who reported or published material on allegedly illicit business practices and labour violations are facing possible criminal defamation charges. If tried and convicted, they could face up to two years in prison.

The report said Bangladesh's interim government has drawn criticism from journalists and media advocates for its January introduction of drafts of two cyber ordinances: the Cyber Protection Ordinance 2025 (CPO) and Personal Data Protection Ordinance 2025.

While the government reportedly dropped controversial sections related to defamation and warrantless searches in its update to the CPO, rights groups remain concerned that some of the remaining provisions could be used to target journalists. According to the Global Network Initiative, of which CPJ is a member, the draft gives the government "disproportionate authority" to access user data and impose restrictions on online content.

Journalists are also concerned that the proposed data law will give the government "unchecked powers" to access personal data, with minimal opportunity for judicial redress, writes the cpj report.

"Democracy cannot flourish without robust journalism," said CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Beh Lih Yi.

She said, "Bangladesh's interim government must deliver on its promise to protect journalists and their right to report freely. Authorities should amend proposed laws that could undermine press freedom and hold the perpetrators behind the attacks on the press to account."