(Media Watch/IFEX) – The following is a Media Watch press release: 27 February 2002 JOURNALISTS UNDER THREAT At least two journalists receive death threats from members of the ruling party in different parts of the country. 1. A K M Musharraf Hussain, the Jamalpur district correspondent for the daily “Ittefaq”, which has the widest circulation, […]
(Media Watch/IFEX) – The following is a Media Watch press release:
27 February 2002
JOURNALISTS UNDER THREAT
At least two journalists receive death threats from members of the ruling party in different parts of the country.
1. A K M Musharraf Hussain, the Jamalpur district correspondent for the daily “Ittefaq”, which has the widest circulation, received a death threat from members of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party, BNP. On 26 February 2002, the daily “Ittefaq” published two different news items about the terrorist activities of Milon Ansari and Ajmeri Alam Sohan, both of whom are active members of the ruling party and their front organisation. On 27 February, while A K M Musharraf was working at the local journalists’ association office, Ajmeri Alam Sohan’s older brother suddenly rushed into the office and threatened to kill Musharraf. He instructed Musharraf not to publish this type of news, otherwise, in the future, he would face serious consequences. The ruling party’s local chapter suspended Milon Ansari from the party for his terrorist activities.
2. In a separate incident, a group of terrorists threatened to kill Abu Sawood Masud, the staff reporter for the daily tabloid “Manav Zamin”, via telephone. Masud had recently published an investigative report about a local murder. The terrorist, who identified himself as Tipu of Gabtoli, warned Masud not to report any further on the recent Arju killing in that area, and threatened that otherwise Masud would be the next target.
3. In another incident, in a written statement, the secretary-general of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party, BNP, Chittagong branch, Mr. Dastagir Chowdhury, warned journalists that they should stop “misreporting” against his party and its members. Chowdhury stated that otherwise his party members would start a campaign against journalists and a boycott of their newspapers.
The statement came just after a news item was published in several newspapers on 26 February. On 25 February 2002, the deputy home minister and another minister met with the local administration to discuss the law and order situation. It was later discovered that a wanted terrorist belonging to the ruling party also attended the meeting. Press photographers took pictures and the following day (26 February,2002), all major newspapers carried the headline “Wanted Terrorist Attended Meeting with Minister”. After publishing the news, the minister commented on the journalists’ professionalism and blamed the police. The leader of the ruling party’s local chapter, however, was annoyed with the journalists and tried to protect the terrorists.
