This editor is breaking news on Bangladesh from afar: “The space for independent media is shrinking fast”

Netra News, an investigative newsroom that concentrates on Bangladesh and is rooted in Sweden, had an impactful debut in December 2019. However, after exposing claims of ministerial corruption, authorities in Bangladesh blocked access to the website. Nonetheless, the ban attracted significant attention to Netra, according to Tasneem Khalil, the Editor-in-Chief, who spoke at the 2023 Global Investigative Journalism Conference.

Investigative journalism in Bangladesh can be challenging due to the country's strict laws. The Digital Security Act is one of the harshest laws for journalists around the world, enabling the government to detain and apprehend journalists without a warrant. Moreover, if any news is considered as "negative propaganda," heavy prison sentences are handed out. Reporters Without Borders' press freedom index ranks the country 163rd out of 180 nations.

Khalil, who is knowledgeable about human rights and journalism, knows from personal experience about the oppressive circumstances. Back in 2007, he was apprehended by the military intelligence agency in Bangladesh, subjected to torture, and subsequently freed without any accusation. He was forced to disappear and eventually escaped from Bangladesh to Sweden with his family.

During the interview, Khalil discusses his time working as a journalist while living outside of his home country and the specific types of stories he's dedicated to sharing about Bangladesh from this different perspective.

What was the reason for creating Netra? What is the concept behind it?

Over the past few years, Bangladesh has been quickly transforming into a country governed by a single political party and police force. The Awami League, in power, employs severe laws to control speech and limit what citizens can express. As a direct consequence, the liberty of the press has greatly suffered.

Journalism that delves deep into investigations has given up the ghost in our nation. Some believe that it never even arrived at the scene, but in any case, any reporting that was being done previously is no longer feasible. We discovered that there were many captivating tales to be recounted about corruption as well as transgressions against human rights committed by security personnel in the country, yet nobody was documenting them.

In countries that uphold democratic principles, journalist bodies function as watchdogs to oversee the workings of government power and strive to hold them responsible. However, our case is different as Bangladesh does not operate a democratic system. Thus, we contemplate what effects a team of investigative journalists serving as watchdogs in a non-democratic community would have. Could it possibly promote a democratic atmosphere?

What sort of article is commonly found on Netra News and who is the target audience that they aim to engage?

During the general elections of Bangladesh in January, we created a real-time blog to keep everyone informed. Our sources disclosed that some individuals were unlawfully stuffing the ballot boxes. Initially, the government declared that the overall voter participation rate was at 28%, which we immediately shared. However, it was later amended to 42%. We are confident that our blog played a role in persuading the European Union and other organizations to dispatch teams for monitoring the elections in Bangladesh and demanding access to the original voting data.

We worked alongside Deutsche Welle, a public broadcaster in Germany, to conduct a probe named Executioners Speak. Ex-officers from the Rapid Action Battalion, a top-notch police force in Bangladesh, shared explicit details about the process of performing unlawful killings. It's a unique situation where we get to hear firsthand from the culprits involved in a case involving human rights violations.

The individuals residing in Bangladesh hold the most significance in regards to our reach and effect. We are under continuous surveillance by security forces. Whenever I make a post on Facebook, it is immediately reported to the DGFI's head, who is our top spectator. They are our most loyal viewers.

It's quite a daunting task since our entire crew comprises only of writers, and we're aware that the viewers prefer video content. Although our textual coverage manages to reach around 100,000 individuals, if we attempt the same approach using video, we can anticipate a staggering 200,000 views on the initial day itself. The video market in Bangladesh is exceptionally massive.

In my opinion, there is a contribution we can make to discussions concerning taboo topics in Bangladesh, like the rights of LGBT individuals and women. Unfortunately, the opportunity for independent media is rapidly decreasing. I am nervous about the possibility of needing to shift our focus to reporting daily news solely due to the closure of other news sources.

What measures are necessary to ensure the safety of individuals in Sweden and safeguard journalists within Bangladesh?

Sweden's rigorous laws on press freedom provide us with great safeguards. However, as the publisher, I take full responsibility for all the content on Netra News. If we don't produce Journalism of the highest quality, then it falls on me, including any financial penalty.

The top priority for safeguarding our journalists is upkeeping digital cleanliness. We are well-versed in the capabilities of state surveillance and thus adhere to a strict protocol. As an instance, we solely rely on Signal for communication and carry out all production activities offshore. In Bangladesh, our reporters maintain a facade of regular employment to shield their identities, which unfortunately limits our ability to conduct fundamental street interviews.

Every day when I wake up, my thoughts immediately turn to my team over in Bangladesh. It often feels like I am in charge of an intelligence operation, which is not how an investigative journalism outlet's editor-in-chief should feel.

A. What are the funding sources for Netra News and how can foreign news organizations ensure long-term viability?

Our organization relies solely on funding from the National Endowment for Democracy, which is great, but we are constantly searching for new funders who share our mission. Our programs prioritize different regions, but we must also consider the long-term sustainability of our efforts. It is important for potential funders to understand this aspect of our work.

We've noticed a challenge when it comes to academic and donor discussions regarding free media in countries like Bangladesh. Sometimes, helping promote free media in these places means also supporting media in your own region. Independent media may not be able to function within these countries due to strict regulations, but some approaches concentrate on investment within these nations despite the obstacles. Europeans and Americans should understand that they may need to adopt the Radio Free Europe method at times.

In order to report on issues that may not be possible to cover within the target country, one option is to leverage press freedom or legal systems in other countries and take advantage of their technological capabilities. This allows for a unique perspective that may not be found within the country being reported on.

A. What suggestions do you have for other media organizations starting out in a foreign country?

B. Personally, I don't support the notion of journalism in exile. Instead, I suggest calling it offshore journalism, though unfortunately there is no term that exactly fits the concept. The practice of media operating in this manner dates back a long time, with examples such as the BBC World Service, Voice of America, and Radio Free Asia.

The advancement of technology has simplified tasks. If we were located in Bangladesh, we would not be capable of reporting on the variety of stories we cover. Additionally, being situated in Sweden provides a safeguard for our sources. One particular military official, who frequently converses with me, previously mentioned that he would not even acknowledge my presence if I was in Bangladesh. However, he feels at ease speaking with me since he knows that I am beyond the reach of authority figures.

This is our unique advantage. Although there are clear drawbacks to working remotely from another country, there are also benefits that we, as a team, must recognize and utilize to our advantage.