(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 16 June 2006 IFJ open letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs: Ministry of Home Affairs, Bangladesh Secretariat, e-mail: info@mha.gov.bd fax: 880 2 7169667(Minister) or 880 2 7164788(Secretary) Honourable Minister, The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the organisation representing over 500,000 journalists worldwide, is deeply concerned for the safety […]
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 16 June 2006 IFJ open letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs:
Ministry of Home Affairs,
Bangladesh Secretariat,
e-mail: info@mha.gov.bd
fax: 880 2 7169667(Minister) or 880 2 7164788(Secretary)
Honourable Minister,
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the organisation representing over 500,000 journalists worldwide, is deeply concerned for the safety of Khulna journalist Dip Azad, and calls on the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure those involved in his attempted assassination in January
2005 are brought to justice and Dip’s safety is guaranteed.
Dip Azad escaped a bomb attack in January 4, 2005 allegedly perpetrated by the Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) Janajuddha faction. Subsequently, a police officer allegedly involved in planning the bomb attack was arrested.
During the court hearing four terrorists gave evidence of the planned attack against Dip. The police officer responsible for the planning of the attack, as well as two other people involved in the attack, have been released from prison, which has made Dip fear for his life.
As a result of this situation, Dip was a recipient of the IFJ safety fund, however his safety situation has not improved. The IFJ is appalled that Dip has had to leave his city through fear for his own safety and is concerned that a final resolution to his case has not yet emerged.
Bangladesh is one of the world’s most dangerous places for journalists, with daily instances of violence, censorship and arrest of journalists. In light of recent attacks on other media workers in Bangladesh, the IFJ is concerned the press freedom situation in Bangladesh is deteriorating further and strongly urges the Ministry of Home Affairs to take swift action to ensure the violence against journalists stops immediately.
Any attack aimed at silencing good journalism is an attack on democracy itself. Violence of this kind is intended to produce a culture of intimidation and self-censorship in which the media cannot be trusted and the public has no reliable source of information.
The IFJ strongly urges the Home Ministry to regenerate the investigation into Dip’s case and to make a solid commitment to protect the safety of Dip, and all Bangladeshi journalists.
The IFJ gives its full support to Dip Azad, as well as other persecuted journalists in Bangladesh, and warns those who seek to harm, threaten, or intimidate journalists or restrict the freedom of the press in any way, that the world is watching.
Yours sincerely,
Christopher Warren
President
International Federation of Journalists
