The first anniversary of the Monsoon Revolution marks a challenging day for the relatives and colleagues of the six journalists killed during the protests that ended Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year reign. When speaking to Bangladeshi media, the families of these reporters denounced severe delays in the judicial investigations and a lack of adequate financial compensation from the state.

These families await the conclusion of the investigation into the murders carried out by International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), the special Bangladeshi court set up in 2010 by Sheikh Hasina to judge crimes committed during the 1971 Liberation War that has been tasked by the interim government with investigating the journalists' murders. Between 15 July and 5 August 2024, five journalists were killed by police bullets, and a sixth was lynched by protestors. At least 250 media professionals were also injured during the uprising. At the time, RSF called for the perpetrators of these crimes to be prosecuted.

However, after almost a year, ICT investigations have only led to the brief arrest of two suspects in the murder of Abu Taher Md. Turab, which took place on 19 July 2024. Only two individuals were identified in the investigation into the death of Mehedi Hasan — which occured on 18 July 202 — one of whom was arrested. Moreover, the father of Mehedi Hasan and the mother of videojournalist Tahir Zaman Priyo, killed on 19 July 2024, told Bangladeshi media that those accused in the case had made threats against them.

The interim government’s spokesperson has not yet responded to RSF’s request for comment.

"RSF expresses its solidarity with the families and colleagues of the slain journalists. Their mourning will be endless unless justice is achieved. It’s been one year after Sheikh Hasina's resignation, and the International Crimes Tribunal’s silence and lack of action regarding the murders of the six journalists is unacceptable. Impunity for these crimes undermines the current transition and the credibility of the transitional government and its leader, Muhammad Yunus. RSF renews its call for the prosecution of the alleged perpetrators of these murders, five of which were carried out by police forces.

Six journalists killed in three weeks, hundreds more injured

• 18 July 2024: Shakil Hossain, correspondent for the daily Bhorer Awaj, and Mehedi Hasan, reporter for the Dhaka Times, were killed by police gunfire during separate protests in Dhaka, the capital.
• 19 July 2024: Abu Taher Md. Turab, correspondent for the daily newspapers Naya Diganta and Jalalabad, was killed by police in Sylhet, in the north-east of the country. On the same day, Tahir Zaman Priyo, videojournalist for TheReport.live, also succumbed to police fire in Dhaka.
• 4 August 2024: Pradip Kumar Bhowmik, correspondent for the daily Khoborpatra died during clashes between rival factions in Sirajganj, a city in the centre of the country.
• 5 August 2024: Sohel Akhanji, reporter for the daily Lokalay Barta, was killed by police fire in Baniachong, a town in the Sylhet district.