Event Summary
On 8 February 2026, army personnel entered the office of online news outlet Bangladesh Times in Dhaka’s Nikunja area and detained 21 staff members, including journalists, security guards, and office assistants, while they were working at night. According to the outlet’s editor-in-chief, the incident followed the publication of a video showing an individual criticising the army during a protest organised by Inqilab Moncho in Dhaka. He reported receiving a call from someone identifying himself as linked to a nearby army camp, warning the newsroom against publishing such content. The staff members were taken to an army camp for questioning and released approximately two hours later. A military official described the incident as a minor matter and did not provide detailed justification.
The military actions were publicly condemned by civil society actors, who characterised it as an attack on independent journalism at a sensitive political moment ahead of national elections, raising concerns about pressure on media organisations and the safety of journalists covering protests and security-related issues.