(MW/IFEX) – Two newspaper offices in Dhaka were attacked by a group of angry political worker on 7 November 1998. The group attacked the daily “Ittefaq” office and tried to enter the premises but failed. When the security guard closed the gate, the group threw stones, breaking windows and hitting the reporting room of the […]
(MW/IFEX) – Two newspaper offices in Dhaka were attacked by a group of angry
political worker on 7 November 1998. The group attacked the daily “Ittefaq”
office and tried to enter the premises but failed. When the security guard
closed the gate, the group threw stones, breaking windows and hitting the
reporting room of the newspaper. In addition, the group set fire to waste
paper in front of the office. The attackers shouted slogans against the
paper and accused it of supporting the present government.
The same group then attacked the “Banglar Bani” office, another widely known
daily. They entered the ground floor of the office and set fire to the
printing plant and the newspaper’s stock of paper stored for printing.
The group of attackers are suspected members of the Bangladesh Nationalist
Party (BNP), the country’s main opposition party. In a press briefing, the
BNP’s chairperson denied the allegation and charged that it was part of a
government plan to defame the BNP.
Background Information
On 7 November, the BNP organised a rally in Dhaka to mark the anniversery of
its founder, Gen. Ziaur Rahaman, taking power as chief Martial Law
Adminitrator in 1975. There was heavy tension in the afternoon when a clash
took place between BNP workers and police. Police threw tear gas and charged
the crowd, and the rally was subsequently postponed. The crowd in the rally
then scattered across the city and the attacks got underway.
The daily “Ittefaq” is Bangladesh’s largest circulated daily. One of the
newspaper’s owners is a minister in the present government. The “Banglar
Bani” is owned by a government party MP and close relative of the present
Prime Minister.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
throughout
Bangladesh
Appeals To
Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina
Prime Minister, PR Bangladesh.
Fax: 880 2 813 244/811 015/813 243Begum Khaleda Zia
Chairperson of the BNP and leader of oppossition in the parliament,
Fax: +880 838 687Major Rafiqul Islam BU
Minister of Home Affairs,
Fax: +880 2 869 667
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
