With the national elections right around the corner, the rising risks facing journalists in Bangladesh is an issue that warrants immediate attention.

A new study, “High Risks, Low Preparedness: Journalist Safety in 2026 Elections,” reveals an increasingly hostile environment for reporters -- from online harassment to physical threats -- during coverage for the elections, simply for doing their jobs.

Despite years of similar threats, and subsequent calls for greater protection, it is concerning that the situation appears to be worsening. Economic pressure, political conflicts, and the rapid spread of misinformation have created conditions in which journalists are routinely targeted.

Whether the intimidation comes from political actors, law enforcement, or anonymous online forces, the outcome remains the same: Those tasked with delivering the truth to the public are often silenced using fear.

These findings make one thing clear: These challenges cannot be addressed effectively unless the safety guidelines that exist on paper are translated into active measures. 

Reporters on the ground must be given the confidence that their rights will be upheld, especially at this time when we are anticipating drastic changes in the way the nation is run.

Ensuring journalists’ safety must be made a priority through systematic, coordinated response. Law enforcement must treat threats and assaults on the press as serious crimes, not minor inconveniences to be brushed aside. Media houses must arrange protective protocol training, and election authorities must guarantee safe access to and around relevant locations.

Above all, the potential political leadership of the country must set a precedent against all kinds of violence or intimidation against journalists.

The freedom of the press cannot be ensured in an atmosphere of fear. If we are to safeguard the integrity of our democracy and, in turn, our nation's future, the protection of those who tell our stories must be treated as a national priority.