Dhaka, June 22 (V7N) — The interim government of Bangladesh has pushed back strongly against allegations of media suppression, issuing a detailed rebuttal to a recent article by journalist William Horsley published on the Commonwealth Journalists Association’s website.

The article, titled “The truth will out: How press freedom is suppressed in Bangladesh,” criticized the country's transitional leadership and accused it of replicating authoritarian practices. In a formal rejoinder posted on the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing Facebook page, the government defended its actions, claiming it is actively reversing the legacy of repression left by the previous regime.

The statement emphasized that Professor Muhammad Yunus's interim administration came to power not through intrigue, but in response to “popular demand for moral authority, neutrality, and reform.” It added that Yunus’s agenda—delivered in a speech at Chatham House on June 11—includes restoring stability, ensuring justice for past crimes, and preparing for inclusive elections.

While acknowledging concerns over arbitrary detentions and restrictions on the media, the rejoinder insisted that the government is not directing prosecutions, nor interfering in the judicial process. It noted that more than 16,000 politically motivated cases are being reviewed and withdrawn to restore faith in the justice system.

 

The government also highlighted its ongoing reforms, including judicial and police commissions aimed at curbing state abuse. “To intervene now would be to mimic the playbook of the previous regime,” it said, stressing its commitment to fairness and separation of powers.

Concluding the statement, the interim government reaffirmed that while challenges remain, it is determined to pursue lawful governance and national reconciliation. “It is not that everything is fixed — but rather that, for the first time in years, a genuine attempt is being made to disentangle justice from politics.”

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