‘We will set office on fire, if…’: Youths threaten Global TV Bangladesh, asks channel’s head to be…

Bangladesh’s media community is increasingly worried after a private TV channel in Dhaka received serious threats. Global TV Bangladesh has been targeted just days after the offices of major newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star were attacked and set on fire. The latest incident has raised fresh fears about growing pressure on independent media.

On December 21, a group of young men went to Global TV’s office in the Tejgaon area and demanded the removal of the channel’s Head of News, Naznin Munni. The group claimed to be part of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. They reportedly threatened that if Munni was not removed from her post, the channel’s office would be burned down, similar to the recent attacks on the two newspapers.

Naznin Munni later confirmed the incident in a Facebook post. She said seven to eight people came to her office and issued the threat. According to her, this was not an isolated case but part of a broader pattern of intimidation being faced by journalists in the country.

What happened that evening

Naznin Munni said the incident happened on the evening of December 21, when she was not present at the office. After wrapping up a meeting with reporters, she left around 8 pm to meet a friend. Soon after she left, a group of young men arrived at Global TV’s office and spoke with the channel’s Managing Director, Ahmed Hossain.

According to Munni, the group first objected to Global TV’s reporting on the death of Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, a spokesperson of Inqilab Mancha. They then demanded that Munni be removed from her position, accusing her of being linked to the Awami League. Munni has firmly denied any political affiliation.

Pressure on channel management

Munni said the group pressured the Managing Director to sign a written statement promising that she would be fired within 48 hours. When he refused, the youths reportedly became aggressive and again threatened to set the office on fire. While the Managing Director did not sign the document, one staff member present allegedly did.

After the incident, Munni said the channel’s management advised her to stay away from the office for a few days and keep a low profile. She decided against staying silent and spoke out publicly, saying that remaining quiet was no longer an option in the face of such threats.