Stalled reforms leave journalists exposed amid by poll security risks

As the country moves towards the much-anticipated 2026 general election—promised to be an exemplary one by the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus early signs of political intolerance and toxicity have become increasingly alarming.

- BY KAMAL AHMED

Amid this volatility, journalists are raising concerns about a hostile reporting environment, ranging from online harassment to physical threats, even at this early stage of election coverage. A new study, "High Risks, Low Preparedness: Journalist Safety in 2026 Elections," reveals that an overwhelming 89 percent of journalists expect to face physical assault while covering the polls.Based on a survey of 201 journalists across 19 districts, the research paints a picture of a deeply polarised and volatile landscape ahead. It shows that 89 percent of journalists anticipate high levels of physical violence; 76 percent expect verbal harassment, while 71 percent fear intimidation. The outlook appears even more troubling for women journalists: 50 percent fear sexual harassment, and 40 percent fear sexual assault during election-related reporting.

An especially disturbing trend is the widening scope of attacks on the press, extending beyond the field to newsrooms and media outlets themselves. Whether the threats originate from political actors, criminal groups, or law enforcement agencies, the intent appears consistent: to silence the media from exposing wrongdoing, abuses of power, violations of the law, and other conduct that undermines a fair electoral environment.

This was not the expectation. At least a dozen journalists spoke about their ordeals at the event marking the publication of the study report, and half of them were women, mostly working in broadcast media, which made them easily recognisable and exposed to increased vulnerability. They are being targeted both offline and online, and the online vitriol is quite offensive, degrading, and ferocious.