Dhaka: A group of Bangladeshi student protesters entered the offices of City Group, the primary investor in Somoy Television, accusing the station of spreading "propaganda." The incident, which took place on December 17, has led to the dismissal of at least five journalists, raising concerns over press freedom in the wake of the recent political revolution.

The protesters, led by Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement, accused Somoy Television of bias and promoting the agenda of the former ruling Awami League party, whose leader Sheikh Hasina was ousted in August.

"Somoy Television was twisting my comments and accommodating the views of a fallen political party," Abdullah told AFP, while denying allegations that the protesters handed over a list of employees to be fired.

Following the protest, five journalists, including senior editor Omar Faroque, were terminated without explanation. "The authorities requested a few of us to step down for the greater good of the station," Faroque said, adding that their demand for a reason went unanswered.

City Group’s managing director did not respond to requests for comment.

The incident has deepened concerns among journalists, many of whom face police investigations or legal actions, particularly those accused of supporting Sheikh Hasina during her tenure. Press watchdogs report that at least four journalists are currently imprisoned, with several others facing charges.

Interim leader Muhammad Yunus, who has repeatedly pledged support for media freedom, sought to distance his administration from the incident. His press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, stated, "If someone takes any action, the responsibility lies with them."

Under Hasina’s rule, media freedom in Bangladesh suffered significantly, with independent outlets frequently targeted. Several newspapers and TV channels were shut down, and journalists were imprisoned for their reporting. In recent months, media outlets perceived as aligned with Hasina’s government, including Somoy TV, have faced backlash.

Protests in November saw demonstrators besiege the offices of Prothom Alo, Bangladesh's largest Bengali-language newspaper, and The Daily Star, threatening to shut them down.

Bangladesh ranks 165th out of 180 countries in press freedom, according to Reporters Without Borders, highlighting the precarious state of media independence in the country.