Journalist shot dead in Bangladesh amid political unrest; PEC demands thorough probe
Babushahi Bureau
Geneva (Switzerland), January 6, 2026: Bangladesh, gripped by political unrest ahead of its national elections scheduled for February 12, 2026, has witnessed the killing of journalist Rana Pratap Bairagi, marking the first murder of a media professional globally this year.
The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), an international media safety and rights organisation, has strongly condemned the killing and demanded a thorough investigation to ensure justice.
According to local media reports, Bairagi (45), editor of the Bengali daily Dainik BD Khabar, was fatally shot in the head by three unidentified assailants on January 5, 2026. His body was later found at Kopalia Bazar in southern Bangladesh’s Jessore district, with his throat also slit.
Bairagi was a resident of Arua village in the Jessore region and the son of a Hindu schoolteacher from Keshabpur upazila. Apart from his journalistic work, he also ran an ice-making factory in Kopalia market.
PEC president Blaise Lempen urged Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh’s interim government, to personally intervene and ensure justice for the slain journalist’s family. PEC’s South and Southeast Asia representative, Nava Thakuria, noted that Bangladesh has recently drawn international attention due to socio-political turmoil, during which several religious minority families have reportedly been targeted by radical elements.
Last year, Bangladesh recorded the killings of five media professionals—Assaduzzaman Tuhin (Dainik Pratidiner Kagoj), Bibhuranjan Sarkar (Ajker Patrika), Wahed-uz-Zaman Bulu (Dainik Ajker Kagoj), Khandahar Shah Alam (Dainik Matrijagat), and Imdadul Haque Milon (Bartaman Somoy).
PEC reiterated its call for stronger protection mechanisms for journalists and accountability for crimes against media professionals, especially during periods of political instability.