Attacks on journos threaten free press
The Editors’ Council has strongly condemned recent attacks, threats and harassment against journalists across Bangladesh, calling for prompt and impartial investigations and exemplary punishment of those responsible.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its President Nurul Kabir and General Secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud, the council expressed particular concern over the October 4 attack on journalists at Rajshahi University.
According to media reports, at least 10 people, including four journalists, were injured in the incident. The council said the journalists were covering the event to gather information and report in the public interest and were not acting on behalf of any particular side.
“An attack on a journalist is not merely an attack on a professional; it is an attack on independent journalism, freedom of expression and the people’s right to know,” the statement said.
The council said disagreement with a report, opinion or any aspect of a journalist’s professional work could never justify an attack, threat or obstruction.
While welcoming the filing of a case and the investigation into the Rajshahi University incident, the Editors’ Council called for an impartial, credible and evidence-based investigation.
It said those responsible must be brought to justice regardless of their political or organisational identities.
The council made five demands in its statement.
It called for prompt and impartial investigations into all recent attacks, threats and harassment targeting journalists and demanded exemplary legal action against those responsible, irrespective of their political affiliation or identity.
It also demanded a safe working environment for journalists covering political programmes, university events, court proceedings, administrative offices and other public gatherings.
The council called for an immediate end to obstruction, intimidation and harassment of journalists while they perform their professional duties.
It further urged political parties, their affiliated organisations and other groups to make clear commitments to protecting journalists and upholding independent journalism.
The Editors’ Council said journalists’ safety was not a special privilege but an essential condition for a free, democratic and accountable society.
“Independent journalism cannot function in an atmosphere of fear, threats and violence,” it said.
The council urged the government, law enforcement agencies, political parties, educational institutions and other concerned parties to take prompt, visible and lawful action against every attack on journalists and adopt effective measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
