Journalists become target of political violence

(MW/IFEX) – Media Watch is reporting that journalists and media organisations in Bangladesh have become the target of political violence. During a country-wide sixty-hour general strike, from 8 to 11 November 1998, at least two photojournalists were injured and six vehicles (auto rickshaw) were set ablaze by angry political workers. The strike was called by […]

(MW/IFEX) – Media Watch is reporting that journalists and media
organisations in Bangladesh have become the target of political violence.
During a country-wide sixty-hour general strike, from 8 to 11 November 1998,
at least two photojournalists were injured and six vehicles (auto rickshaw)
were set ablaze by angry political workers. The strike was called by the
main opposition Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies. Government party
members were also present in the streets in an attempt to foil the
opposition’s program.

**New cases and update to IFEX alert of 10 November 1998**
At 10:25 a.m. (local time) on 9 November, Shafiuddin Bitu, a photojournalist
from the daily “Inquilab”, was wounded. In the Tanti Bazar area (old area
in the capital Dhaka) a group of strike supporters threw a handmade bomb and
a splinter hit Bitu’s hand. He experienced serious bleeding, and was
immediately rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. On the same day, a
photojournalist from “The New Nation”, Farhad Hossain, suffered a head
injury after being caught in a bomb attack while exercising his professional
duties in the Nawab Yusuf Market area of Dhaka.

Also on 9 November, four auto rickshaw vehicles carrying reporters from the
“Star”, “Janakantha”, “Sangbad” and “Ittefaq” dailies were ransacked by mobs
and set on fire. On 10 November, two other auto rickshaw carrying reporters
from the “Ittefaq” and “Bhorer Kagoj” dailies were also set ablaze by the
pro-strike mob. Though the vehicles carrying media people were not
participating in the strike, field level workers did not follow orders to
let journalists carry out their work. On 7 November, the day before strikes
got underway, two newspaper offices were attacked.

Recommended Action

Her Excellency Ms. Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister of Bangladesh

Fax: +88 02 813 244 / 811 015 / 813 243

Begum Khaleda Zia

Leader of the Opposition in Parliament

Fax: +88 02 838 687
Mr. Humayun Rashid Choudhury

Speaker of Parliament

Fax: +88 02 812 267
Mr. Rafiqul Islam Bir Uttam

Minister for Home Affairs

Fax: +88 02 869 667 / 864 788