Five journalists killed in BD in 2024: RSF

FE Team | Published: December 13, 2024 00:27:35

The Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2024 Round-up has highlighted a grim picture of press freedom worldwide, with 54 journalists including five in Bangladesh killed in 2024, reports UNB.
It says journalists increasingly pay the ultimate price in conflict zones and under repressive regimes.
Due to the large number of journalists killed in Pakistan (7) and the protests that rocked Bangladesh (5), Asia remained the region with the second-highest number of killed media workers, according to RSF.
Among 54 journalists 31 lost their lives in conflict zones, marking the highest fatality rate in five years.
The Gaza Strip has been singled out as the deadliest region for journalists, accounting for nearly 30 per cent of fatalities, where 35 journalists were reportedly killed by the Israeli army in connection to their work.
The report highlights the broader issue of media suppression, as 550 journalists are currently imprisoned worldwide - a 7.0 per cent rise from last year. Israel has become the third-largest jailer of journalists, with a sharp increase in detentions since October 2023.
The report also sheds light on enforced disappearances, with nearly 100 journalists missing across 34 countries.
Alarmingly, 45 per cent of these cases are attributed to enforced disappearances, often under authoritarian regimes or amidst government negligence.