This conclusive essay and a reflective commentary critiques the notion of academic ‘freedom’ in Bangladesh, highlighting the complexities and power dynamics involved in discussing this concept. Drawing from personal experiences of being interviewed by European students about press freedom in Bangladesh, it problematizes the liberal presumptions and narrow parameters that often frame these conversations. By remaining critically aware of these assumptions, any scholar risks being misperceived as indifferent to the precarious situation of the Bangladeshi press and academia, especially in the context of global parameters of the press or academic ‘freedom’. However, this commentary argues that a nuanced understanding of ‘freedom’ must consider the global context and how it is perceived and exercised differently across cultures and societies. Ultimately, this afterword calls for a more reflexive and contextualized approach to discussions of academic freedom, one that acknowledges the complexities and challenges of promoting freedom in diverse cultural and political settings.