The CPJ said journalists told them threats and attacks on media are on the rise in the run-up to the elections. They said it has been on the rise since the interim government took power in late October.

"We urge you to do everything in your power as leader of the interim government to ensure that assaults on the press are adequately investigated and punished, and that journalists are free to report on the election campaign without fear of retribution," the letter read.

The letter signed by Joel Simon, executive director to the CPJ, was also put on the CPJ website.

Bangladesh's vibrant press corps has been a constant target of attacks in recent years, the letter said giving an instance of the November 22 attack on Hasibur Rahman Bilu, a staff reporter of The Daily Star.

Unidentified men attacked Bilu when he was on his way to his office in Bogra. He was treated for the injuries to his legs and hand and is still suffering from the pains, CPJ quoting Bilu said.

"Bilu, who has written about corruption among Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami members in Bogra, believes he was attacked in retribution for his reporting. No arrests have been made in the case; Bilu has continued working despite the attack," the letter read.

The letter mentioning news reports said journalists of Satkhira have demanded action against former BNP legislator Habibul Islam Habib for his alleged death threats to Prothom Alo reporter Kalyan Banerjee on November 23.

The journalist filed a police complaint. Two other reporters of Satkhira -- Subhas Chowdhury of Dainik Jugantar and Janmabhumi reporter Mozaffar Rahman -- also received death threats on November 24 and 25, the letter citing newspaper reports said.

The CPJ urged the president to address these new threats while mentioning that the government should also work to address previously unresolved cases in order to prevent further attacks.

The letter said 10 journalists have been killed for their work since 2000 with near total impunity and a pattern has emerged of the suspects being detained and released, trials postponed, and justice delayed.

The CPJ said no convictions were made in the killings of Mir Ilias Hossain, Shamsur Rahman, Nahar Ali, Harunur Rashid, Shukur Hossain, Manik Saha, Humayun Kabir, Sheikh Belaluddin or Gautam Das who were all murdered in the last six years.

"The record impunity has made Bangladesh one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists," the letter read.

The CPJ said during the turmoil of this pre-election season, a free press is crucial to the strength of the democratic process. But the press cannot be free without the assurance of safety.