(Media Watch/IFEX) – In Bangladesh, journalists, especially photojournalists, have again become the targets of the police. During the general strike, held all over the country on 11 May 1999, at least thirteen journalists were injured when police attacked them. The strike was called by the country’s main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and […]
(Media Watch/IFEX) – In Bangladesh, journalists, especially
photojournalists, have again become the targets of the police. During the
general strike, held all over the country on 11 May 1999, at least thirteen
journalists were injured when police attacked them. The strike was called by
the country’s main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP),
and their allies. The government party was also present in the street to
foil the opposition’s programme.
On the morning of 11 May, a BNP female activist was almost stripped of her
clothing (saree) and others were assaulted by the police, while
photojournalists were trying to photograph the incident. Baton wielding
policemen assaulted photojournalist Borhanuddin of “ManobJamin”, Habib of
“Ajker Kagoj”, Emran of “Daily Star”, Abutaher Khokan of “Financial
Express”, Joy and Farid of “Janakantha”, Sanaul Haq of “Independent” and
Khaled Haider of “Dinkal”. In another incident, the police swung into
action, firing tear gas and rubber bullets in front of the BNP office at
about 1:15 p.m. (local time), leaving twenty people injured. Photographers
Tapan Dev (“Khabar”) and Gulam Mustafa (“Sangram”), and reporters Azmal Haq
Helal (“Matribhumi”), and Ziaur Rahman Madhu (“Banglar Bani”) received
rubber bullet injuries.
The Photojournalists Association claimed that twenty of their members were
injured on 11 May, while performing their professional duties.
The Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), the Dhaka Union of
Journalists (DUJ), and Dhaka reporters from “Unity”, DRU and the
Photojournalists Association condemned the incident and demanded immediate
action against the police officers who were involved in the incident.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
in the incident
when they are carrying out their professional duties
Appeals To
Her Excellency Ms Sheikh Hasina
Prime Minister of Bangladesh
Fax: +88 02 813 244 / 811 015 / 813 243Begum Khaleda Zia
Leader of the Opposition in Parliament
Fax: +88 02 838 687Mr. Humayun Rashid Choudhury
Speaker of the Parliament
Fax: + 88 02 812 267Mr. Mohammed Nasim.
Minister for Home Affairs
Fax: +88 02 869 667 / 864 788
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.