(Media Watch/IFEX) – On 27 October 2000, in the afternoon, senior journalist and Secretary-General of the Dhaka Reporters Unity (an organisation for reporters who work in Dhaka) Monwar Islam escaped a kidnapping attempt in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. After finishing his workday at the Dhaka Reporters Unity’s office in Segun Bagicha (2000 yards […]
(Media Watch/IFEX) – On 27 October 2000, in the afternoon, senior journalist and Secretary-General of the Dhaka Reporters Unity (an organisation for reporters who work in Dhaka) Monwar Islam escaped a kidnapping attempt in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. After finishing his workday at the Dhaka Reporters Unity’s office in Segun Bagicha (2000 yards from the National Press Club) at around 4:00 p.m. (local time), he headed for the office of his newspaper, the tabloid daily “Manavjamin”. Three unidentified men in a white car sped towards him and asked him to get inside the car. Islam refused, prompting two of the abductors to get out of their car with firearms and try to push him into the car. Islam started shouting and roadsiders rushed to the spot. The miscreants immediately left the area. The journalist notified local police of the incident. He suspects that terrorists annoyed with his recent reporting may be responsible.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– urging them to take immediate action to identify and punish the would-be abductors
– urging them to provide security for journalists in order to allow them to carry out their professional work
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:Sheikh Hasina
Honourable Prime Minister of the PR Bangladesh
Fax: +88 02 811 3244 / 811 1015Mohd. Nasim
Minister for Home Affairs of the PR Bangladesh
Fax: +88 02 861 9667 / 861 4788Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
