Chattogram, Bangladesh – Journalists in Bangladesh are facing increasing threats and physical assaults as they carry out their reporting duties. Recently, employees of a textile factory in Chattogram attempted to storm the offices of a local newspaper, demanding the removal of an article critical of their factory. The situation escalated to the point where riot police had to intervene, dispersing the protesters after the newspaper management made a promise to publish a right of reply. This incident was condemned as an organized act of intimidation.
These attacks on journalists go beyond mere threats, as illustrated by a brutal assault on Shohag Khan, a correspondent for Dainik Samakal in Shariatpur. Khan was attacked with a hammer and knife for his reporting on medical negligence. Additionally, three other journalists were injured as they tried to help Khan, who suffered serious injuries and had received death threats the day before.
In another incident, supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party violently attacked journalists covering a court verdict at the Supreme Court. The journalists, including Javed Akhtar from ATN News and others, were reporting on a case related to a past attack involving the country’s ousted prime minister. The assault on these media professionals highlights the dangers journalists face while on assignment.
Furthermore, a group of protesters assaulted journalists covering the demolition of a museum associated with a former prime minister’s family in Dhaka. The police failed to intervene, leaving the journalists vulnerable to the attacks by the crowd. These incidents underscore the risks journalists take to bring news to the public and the challenges they encounter while doing so.
To add to the growing concerns, a group of journalists was attacked by the police while covering a student protest in Dhaka. The journalists, despite showing their press credentials, were beaten with batons, punched, and kicked by the riot police. This has resulted in the filing of a formal complaint by the injured journalists against the police for deliberately targeting them during their coverage.
These incidents of violence and intimidation against journalists in Bangladesh highlight the need for greater protection of press freedom and the safety of media personnel in the country. The role of journalists in bringing important issues to light and holding power to account is crucial for a functioning democracy, underscoring the importance of upholding their safety and rights amidst growing threats and attacks.