A jeep hit Hossan’s motorcycle and ran over his body, according to a complaint, reviewed by CPJ, that was filed by the family at Rangunia Model Police Station on the day that Hossan died.

No arrests had been made although the police were given the driver’s name, those sources said. A journalist familiar with the case, who spoke to CPJ on condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisal, said the driver went into hiding shortly after the crash.

Chandan Kumar Chakraborty, officer-in-charge of Rangunia Model Police Station, told CPJ that officers were searching for the driver, whose vehicle was brought into police custody in early February, and the police were investigating what authorities considered to be a road accident.

The circumstances surrounding Hossan’s death were unclear, the anonymous journalist said, adding that that a witness told him that they saw Hossan’s motorcycle standing upright on the road after the crash.

Sikder and the anonymous journalist told CPJ that they suspected Hossan was targeted due to his journalistic work. Sikder said that his son tipped off a civil service official about illegal construction on government-owned land three months before his death and authorities demolished the structure on September 20.

On September 21, Hossan reported in Newsnow24 that two brothers, whom he named, were rebuilding the structure the day after the demolition. In the article, Hossan said one of the men phoned him after he visited the site and said, “I will make you a corpse. And I will see how great a journalist you are.”

On September 23, Hossan filed a complaint about the threat, reviewed by CPJ, at Rangunia Model Police Station. Chakraborty said that the police were investigating the complaint.

This content originally appeared on Committee to Protect Journalists and was authored by Committee to Protect Journalists.

The complaint, which CPJ reviewed, was filed by Md Shahinur Islam, who identified himself to The Daily Star as a reporter for the newspaper Amar Somoy, which supports the ruling Awami League party. It accused the journalists and other unnamed members of the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami party and Bangladesh Nationalist Party of working together to commit “anti-state crimes” and disseminate “conspiratorial news” in a July 27, 2023, Dainik Fulki article.

That article, titled “Asia’s longest-serving prime minister is finally resigning,” covered the resignation announcement of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen but mistakenly used a photo of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, president of the Awami League. The next day, the newspaper published a correction and apology, which CPJ reviewed.

Haque left Dainik Fulki around 2019 and was not involved in the article, the journalist told CPJ.

Sakib said he believed he was being targeted to undermine his campaign in the election for Savar Press Club president, which is set to be held in the coming months. He is opposed by about five journalists who strongly support the Awami League, he said.

Similarly, Haque said he believed he was being targeted for his campaign to be the press club’s organizing secretary. He is opposed by two journalists who strongly support the ruling party, he told CPJ.

The Savar Press Club is a trade group in the Dhaka district that advocates for issues, including wage distribution, labor rights, and journalist safety.

Sakib and Haque said they do not know Islam. Islam told CPJ via messaging app that his complaint was “accurate” and claimed the two journalists were involved in “information terrorism.” Islam did not respond to CPJ’s follow-up question about his journalistic background. CPJ called, messaged, and emailed the Amar Somoy newspaper for comment, but did not receive any replies.

Separately, on July 30, Sakib received a notice from the Dhaka district deputy commissioner’s office, reviewed by CPJ, ordering the journalist to explain within seven days why Dainik Fulki’s license to operate should not be canceled following an application filed by Manjurul Alam Rajib, chair of a local government unit and an Awami League leader in Savar. The notice alleges that the July 27 article “achieved the task of tarnishing the image of the state.”

Sakib’s response, dated August 6 and reviewed by CPJ, denied that allegation, expressed regret over the “unintentional mistake,” and mentioned the published correction and apology. Haque told CPJ that he did not receive a similar notice at that time.

Bangladesh’s next national election is set for January 2024 and expected to be met with increasing violence. In late July 2023, police fired at opposition party protesters with tear gas, rubber bullets, water cannons, and beat them amid mass arrests of Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders and activists.

In response to the government’s announcement on August 7 that the Digital Security Act will be replaced, CPJ called on authorities to ensure the new Cyber Security Act complies with international human rights law.

Hasan Mahmud, Bangladesh’s information minister and Awami League joint secretary, and Dipak Chandra Saha, officer-in-charge of the Savar Model Police Station, did not respond to CPJ’s requests for comment sent via messaging app. CPJ also contacted Rajib and Anisur Rahman, Dhaka district deputy commissioner, via messaging app for comment, but did not receive any replies.

This content originally appeared on Committee to Protect Journalists and was authored by Committee to Protect Journalists.

On the evening of July 3, Rubel received a phone call and left the office of Kushtiar Khabar, the privately owned newspaper where he worked as acting editor, in the southwest Khulna division’s Kushtia district, according to multiple news reports and a local journalist familiar with the case, who spoke to CPJ on the condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisal.

Rubel informed his office assistant that he would return soon, and when he did not return later that night, his brother filed a missing person notice with the local police, according to those sources.

On July 7, locals found Rubel’s body in a river in Kushtia district, according to those news reports and the journalist who spoke with CPJ. The reason for his disappearance and the cause of his death remains unclear, according to those sources.

“Bangladesh authorities must conduct a swift and impartial investigation into the disappearance and death of journalist Hasibur Rahman Rubel, determine if he was targeted for his work, and ensure that any perpetrators are brought to justice,” said Robert Mahoney, CPJ’s executive director. “Authorities must work to end Bangladesh’s dreadful record of allowing journalists’ deaths to remain unsolved and to wallow in impunity.”

Rubel also worked as editor of the privately owned news website CrimeVisionBD.com, and as a correspondent for the privately owned newspaper Amader Notun Shomoy, according to those news reports and the journalist who spoke with CPJ, who added that all three outlets Rubel worked for cover politics, crime, and social issues.

Md. Kamruzzaman Talukdar, officer-in-charge of the Kumarkhali police station, whose jurisdiction covers where Rubel’s body was found, said the journalist’s body did not bear marks of injury but had “an unusual mark on his throat,” according to New Age Bangladesh.

Police have not made any arrests in the case as of July 13, according to that report and the local journalist.

CPJ contacted Talukdar and the Kushtia police for comment via messaging app, but did not receive any response.

In 2021, Bangladesh ranked 11th on CPJ’s global impunity index, which tracks countries where the murderers of journalists escape justice.

This content originally appeared on Committee to Protect Journalists and was authored by Erik Crouch.