The federation said 18 editors and journalists currently face the possibility of imprisonment because of criminal libel suits, and journalists and the newspapers they work for have been threatened by politicians to stop reporting on government corruption.

"We are concerned that the threat of violence, legal actions and pressure from those in authority is preventing journalists from doing their job and encouraging a terrible culture of self censorship in the media," IFJ President Christopher Warren said.

The IFJ, representing more than 500,000 journalists in 115 countries, condemns the numerous reports of Bangladeshi journalists being denied the right report in forms of intimidation and threats by politicians.

"A truly democratic Bangladesh cannot be achieved without greater respect for press freedom and the public's right to information," Warren said.

"When journalists are beaten, harassed or threatened for their work, the very heart of democracy is compromised," he added.

"Furthermore, criminal defamation, an inappropriate penalty that brands journalist a criminal, must not and cannot be retained by a truly democratic state," he said.

"The IFJ calls on the police and the government of Bangladesh for immediate action to ensure the safety of journalists, for the removal of defamation from criminal code, and for greater respect for media independence," IFJ President Christopher Warren said.