(Media Watch/IFEX) – The following is a Media Watch press release: JOURNALISTS UNDER THREAT / Journalists Protest At least one journalist has received death threats from a group of terrorists and another journalist was threatened by a government bureaucrat. In a separate incident, journalists staged a protest against a provocative remark by a ruling party […]
(Media Watch/IFEX) – The following is a Media Watch press release:
JOURNALISTS UNDER THREAT / Journalists Protest
At least one journalist has received death threats from a group of terrorists and another journalist was threatened by a government bureaucrat. In a separate incident, journalists staged a protest against a provocative remark by a ruling party leader.
1. Local terrorists have threatened to shoot and kill Mohammed Abu Taleb, Keranigonj correspondent for the daily Ittefaq and president of the Keranigonj Press Club. A group of local terrorists were furious with him after he wrote a report about an attack involving a former opposition leader (and current prime minister) that was published in the daily Ittefaq. A terrorist leader known as Abul Bashar threatened Abu Taleb. On 7 March 2002, local journalists held a protest rally and demanded the immediate arrest of Abul Bashar and his colleagues.
2. In a separate incident, ATM Mamunur Rashid, an Upazilla Nirbahi officer (executive officer of the local thana police station), threatened Shafiqul Islam, the Sharishabari (Jamalpur district) correspondent for the daily Ittefaq. On 5 March 2002, while Shafiqul Islam was on a professional assignment at the Sharishabari Pilot Girls’ High School, the officer suddenly threatened him and ordered him to leave the school immediately. The journalist claims that the officer was angry with him because of his recent report about an internal conflict within the local chapter of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
3. Journalists working in Bagherhat district (close to the southern divisional city of Khulna) expressed their concern and condemned the recent comments by a ruling party leader and the behaviour of a government minister.
On 6 March 2002, Minister Redwan Ahmed joined a District Law and Order Committee meeting. During the meeting, a ruling party leader proposed to change the law in order to take tough action against journalists. He also made some unacceptable comments against local journalists. The local press club president, who was also present at the meeting, protested his comments and sought the minister’s protection, but the minister sided with the party leader.
