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and citizens, threats, violence against women journalists, restrictions on freedom of assembly and the abuse of enforcement mechanisms.

The developments are not isolated incidents but part of a broader architecture of repression, it said.

A culture of impunity, ideological backlash, and selective enforcement of laws are enabling the steady erosion of rights that underpin a democratic society.

“If left unchecked, this climate will continue to marginalise critical voices, dismantle trust in institutions, and undermine the very ideals of justice, equity and inclusive governance that Bangladesh aspires to.”

The report urged the government, policymakers and relevant stakeholders to enact laws consistent with international human rights treaties and standards, ensuring they do not curtail freedom of expression.

Ahmed Swapan Mahmud, executive director of VOICE, condemned recent government remarks labelling mobs as pressure groups, stating that organised groups are orchestrating mob attacks. He underscored the need to raise voices against such practices.

A culture of silence continues to prevail in society, where people often remain quiet unless a crisis directly affects them, said Rezaur Rahman Lenin, a researcher and human rights activist.

Meaningful change can take place if individuals view another person’s crisis as their own and if the society collectively sees state issues as shared problems.

“If I cannot transform ‘I’ into ‘we’, then the cage of stagnation in which we live will remain unbroken, and we will not find a way out,” he said.

Mahpara Alam, researcher fellow at One Future Network, South Asia, emphasised the need for partnerships with social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok to ensure the swift removal of harmful content.

She called for digital literacy campaigns in colleges, universities, and among young people, enabling them to understand which types of content may cause harm if shared and to identify misinformation.

While a well-structured wage board framework exists on paper, the key question remains whether it is being implemented and monitored effectively in practice, said Udisa Islam, city editor at Bangla Tribune.

She recommended establishing a clear monitoring mechanism to track whether the wage board framework is in place, which institutions are complying, and which are not.

“Journalists cannot be expected to fulfil their duties with only an ID card while being denied a dignified life and economic security. Such conditions are essential for independent journalism,” she added.