(Media Watch/IFEX) – In a single day, three photojournalists were wounded and the home of a journalist was damaged by the police. On 2 May 2000, three photojournalists were hit by the police and one of them was seriously injured. The incident occurred at the Dhaka University campus while the photojournalists were photographing a procession […]
(Media Watch/IFEX) – In a single day, three photojournalists were wounded and the home of a
journalist was damaged by the police.
On 2 May 2000, three photojournalists were hit by the police and one of them was seriously injured. The incident occurred at the Dhaka University campus while the photojournalists were photographing a procession of the university’s female students. When the procession tried to enter the university vice chancellor’s house, the photojournalists attempted to take their picture. At that moment, Police Sergeant Haider ordered his constables to attack the photojournalists. The police came at them with batons and Sergeant Haider hit one of the journalists in the face. The wounded photojournalists are Sohrab Alam (from “Sangbad”), Borhanuddin (from “Manav Jamin”) and Abdus Samad Jewel (from “Janakantha”).
The government took immediate action and Police Sergeant Haider was immediately suspended from his job. Police authorities further informed Media Watch that additional action would be taken after a final inquiry.
On the same day, police in the district town of Kushtia damaged the home of Tariql Haq Tariq, the district correspondent for the daily “Prothom alo”. At around midnight, while Tariq was out of his home, local police raided and looted his home in Courtpara and damaged a number of objects. The police officers did not have a warrant with them but local sources said that the police was annoyed because of some of Tariq’s recent reports on the law and order situation. The Kushtia police superintendent, the local police chief, stated that he felt “sorry” for the police action.
In another incident, the police failed to take any action and were even unwilling to register a journalist’s case, because a complaint was made against members of the ruling party’s student wing. On 29 April, Muniruzzaman Monir, a correspondent for the daily “Prothom Alo” of Rupgonj (in Narayangonj, a district town close to the capital Dhaka), was attacked by the ruling party’s student wing leaders. They were angry because of one of Monir’s news items published in the daily. They hit Monir with sticks and snatched his cellular phone and moneybag with 2000 taka (approx. US$50). After the incident, on a number of occasions Monir rushed to the local police station to lodge a complaint but the police refused to hear him as the criminals belong to the government party. Subsequently, Monir was warned not to return to the police station.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the minister:
– asking him to ensure that the environment for journalists is such that they be allowed to work freely
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:
Mohd. Nasim
Minister for Home Affairs
People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Fax: +880 2 861 9667 / 861 4788
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