(Media Watch/IFEX) – The following is a 27 October 2001 Media Watch press release: Journalists continue to be the target of post-election violence in Bangladesh. After the parliamentary election held on 1 October 2001, several incidents occurred around the country. In some parts of the country, journalists became the target of terrorist attacks and threats. […]
(Media Watch/IFEX) – The following is a 27 October 2001 Media Watch press release:
Journalists continue to be the target of post-election violence in Bangladesh.
After the parliamentary election held on 1 October 2001, several incidents occurred around the country. In some parts of the country, journalists became the target of terrorist attacks and threats.
1. Rafiqul Hasan Tuhin, Habigonj district correspondent of the daily Janakantha was seriously wounded and admitted to hospital. The daily Janakantha reported that, on 26 October, while Tuhin was on his way to work at around 6pm, some terrorists belonging to the ruling party’s student wing attacked him in front of Kalibarigate. The terrorist group was led by local Chattra Dal President Enamul Haq Selim. The group was annoyed with the journalist because of some of his recent reports. After physically assaulting him, the terrorist group attempted to stab the journalist with a knife. At that moment, police on patrol rushed to the scene and rescued him. It was reported that the terrorist group had been following him during the last few weeks. After the journalist wrote a report on a local collaborator of the country’s liberation struggle, some terrorists went to his home several times and threatened him. Last week, Tuhin filed a general complaint with the local police station to this regard.
2. Mukter Hossain Golap, the Mithamoin (in Kishorgonj district) correspondent for the daily Sangbad, received a death threat after publishing an article with the picture of a terrorist with an illegal weapon in his hand. On 20 October, a report was published in the daily Sangbad showing local terrorist Al Amin carrying an illegal weapon in his hand. After the publication of this item, Al Amin declared an open challenge stating that he would kill journalist Mukhter Hossain Golap.
3. On 21 October, the daily Dinakal reported that Shafiqul Islan, correspondent for the daily Sangram, was attacked and wounded in the Bhavanigonj area, under Bagmara upazila of Rajshahi. On 16 October, as the reporter was coming out of a local bank, suddenly some terrorists grabbed him, took him to a nearby quiet area and tried to stab him in the belly. The terrorist group beat him with rods but finally Shafiq managed to escape. The terrorists were angered by Shafiq’s writing an article against them. Shafiq is the general secretary of the local press club. After receiving some threats from the terrorists, he lodged a general complaint with the local police station on 7 October.
4. On 20 October, in Narayangonj, some extortionists attacked local daily Shtalakkha, demanding monthly payment from the newspaper and ordering journalists to not publish any news without first informing them. Newspapers reported that a group of terrorists went to the newspaper office, looking for the daily’s news editors, who were absent at that moment. The assailants tried to break the lock on the editors’ room and took some papers from the reporters’ desks. The daily’s staff was intimidated by the assailants who were carrying pistols. Before leaving, the extortionists ordered the journalists and staff who were present to “tell your editor to come to us and finalise the monthly payment, otherwise we will not allow you to publish the paper.” The terrorist group claimed to be the cadre of the ruling party. After one week, police detained two people in connection with this case.
5. In Kushtia (district town in the south western Bangladesh), ruling party activists made a statement in the local newspaper, saying they would take revenge if any journalist wrote against them or their “Boss”. The “Boss” is the son of a state minister of the present government. In a statement in the local newspaper, assistant organising secretary of the district Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP, ruling party) SM Omar Faruk, former leader of Chattra Dal (the BNP’s student wing) Mahmub Murshed Sumon, present leader of Chattra Dal Ismail Hosain Murad, and Masudul haq Swapan said that “some journalists use this profession as a business. We’ll take revenge against them.”
A few days before, Bachchu Mollah, the son of the state minister for telecommunications, attacked the house of the local correspondent for the daily Jugantor. That time the journalist was not at home but Bachchu Mollah kidnapped his elder brother and tortured him. All the newspapers carried the story, a case was filed and finally Bachchu Mollah surrendered to police. Subsequently, after a discussion by both sides, the case was withdrawn and Bachchu Mollah was granted bail. However, Bachchu is in police custody as there are other cases against him.
6. In a separate incident in Daulatpur under Kushtia District, Abul Shah, a terrorist using the name of the ruling party, threatened to kill Humayun kabir Mithu, Daulatpur correspondent for the daily Muktakantha. On 19 October, Abul Shah sent a written order to Mithu instructing him to not write any story against his leader. He used language such as “don’t write against my leader, if you does not obey my order I’ll shot you like a dog.” Abul Shah is a known terrorist in the area.
7. Members of the Chattra dal, the ruling party’s student wing, took possession of the room of the Dhaka university reporter and correspondent for the daily Janakantha. The daily Janakantha reported that Mamunur Rashid is the resident student of the Jasim uddin hall at Dhaka University (room 129). After graduating from Dhaka university, Mamun is now studying in the Peace & Conflict department of the same university. On 21 October, Chattra dal activists broke his room’s lock and took possession. They also threatened him to report “more carefully”. Mamun is the former general secretary of the Dhaka University Journalists’ Association.
8. Hasan Parvez, Kolapara correspondent for the daily Samachar in southern Patuakhali district, was admitted to hospital. On 20 October, a group of terrorists attacked his house in Tualatuli, Kolapara. They beat him and suddenly Hasan fainted. He was immediately admitted to hospital. A case was filed with the Kolapara police station. Nobody has been arrested.