The motive behind the murder of television host Maolana Nurul Islam Farooqi is yet to be determined. However, Farooqi had reportedly received death threats before for opposing militancy in Bangladesh.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum (BMSF) deplore the slaughter murder of a television host in Dhaka on Wednesday night, August 27, 2014.
Maolana Nurul Islam Farooqi, who hosted two programs, Shantir Pothe and Kafela, on Channel i television was slaughtered at his residence at East Razabazar. More than half-a-dozen youths allegedly entered the house in the pretext of talking about the Hajj pilgrimage, but then proceeded to tie up all members of his family before killing Farooqi in his bedroom.
According to reports, Farooqi was also the presidium member of political Islami Front and affiliated with Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat and also the Khatib of High Court Mazar mosque.
The motive behind the murder is yet to be determined. However, Farooqi’s supporters reportedly said he had received death threats before for opposing militancy in Bangladesh.
Dhaka City police said they were investigating whether the murder was due to the TV programs Farooqi hosted or due to personal animosity or rivalry over other matters.
Farooqi was married with three sons. The IFJ and the BMSF express condolence to his family.
Jane Worthington, the IFJ Asia Pacific deputy director said: “This is a hideous and cold-blooded murder that demonstrates the volatile environment in Bangladesh and also the gruesome way that opposition voices are dealt with.”
“The spike in violence against media workers in Bangladesh this year is extremely disturbing and we again call on the Bangladesh government and authorities to fulfil their obligations to bring justice to Farooqi’s family for this horrendous act. The killing of media workers without justice only serves to fuel a climate of impunity and must be dealt with as an extreme matter of urgency.”
TV journalist beaten by police
In a separate development, the IFJ and the BMSF condemned the beating of a journalist by police in Kushtia in Khulna district in Western Bangladesh on Tuesday, August 26.
According to reports, Akhil Poddar, a special correspondent with private channel ETV, was beaten by police before being handcuffed and led away to the police station.
Poddar alleged Kumarkhali Police Assistant Sub-inspector (ASI) Abul Kalam Azad and other policemen attacked him and another reporter of Mohona TV. They were stopped by a police patrol and were subjected to swearing before the police threatened to charge them.
After hearing of the incident, local journalists went to the police station and took Poddar and the local correspondent of Mohona TV to the Upazila Health Complex.
The IFJ understands that Kumarkhali Police Chief Lutfar Rahman apologised on behalf of his colleagues while Additional Superintendent of Police Abu Bakar Siddique promised departmental steps against the policemen involved.
Jane Worthington, the IFJ Asia Pacific deputy director said: “We strongly condemn the actions of the police in attacking these journalists while they were simply performing their duty.. This incident highlights the attitudes against journalists in the community and the challenges that journalists must overcome each day to deliver the news. We urge the thorough investigation into the matter and for the offending officers to be stood down or face disciplinary action to ensure such events do not recur.”