(Media Watch/IFEX) – Followers of State Minister for Social Welfare Mozammel Hossain have carried out their boss’ orders. On the evening of 26 October 2000, less than twenty-four hours after the minister issued his order to attack journalists indiscriminately, a group of terrorists under the leadership of local Union Parishad (a primary unit of local […]
(Media Watch/IFEX) – Followers of State Minister for Social Welfare Mozammel Hossain have carried out their boss’ orders. On the evening of 26 October 2000, less than twenty-four hours after the minister issued his order to attack journalists indiscriminately, a group of terrorists under the leadership of local Union Parishad (a primary unit of local government) Chairman Asadul Haq attacked the offices of local daily “Satkhira Chitra”. They ransancked the office and beat the newspaper’s editor, Anisur Rahim, with knives and a revolver. Rahim was immediately hospitalised. The terrorist group had earlier gone to the local press club to find Rahim. They targeted “Satkhira Chitra” because the newspaper had recently published reports on the misappropriation of relief materials by local leaders.
On the same day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited the flood-hit area. Local journalists boycotted her programme and demanded security. According to Media Watch, local journalists require increased security arrangements and their families urgently need monetary help for their post-flood rehabilitation.
Background Information
On 25 October 2000, State Minister for Social Welfare Hossain issued an order to his party members and local administration stating: “Wherever you will find journalists, break their bones.” The minister gave this order in a closed door meeting with local administration and Awami League (ruling party) leaders at a guest house in Satkhira (a South-western district town in Bangladesh which has experienced terrible flooding in the past month).
Two disguised local journalists were present at the meeting and fell under the minister’s wrath as they protested the directive. In protest, local journalists held an emergency meeting that very evening with the local press club president as chair. They condemned the state minister’s offensive words and decided to approach the prime minister (who also holds the portfolio of information minister). They faxed their plea to the prime minister, requesting that she withdraw the minister from his assignment. The journalists also sought punitive action against local Awami League leader Mujibur Rahman, who also delivered offensive speeches against local journalists. He was critical of their reporting on gross misappropriation of relief funds.
Previously, on 20 October, Awami Jubo League (ruling party youth front) activists assaulted Sohrab Hossain, a reporter with the regional daily “Loksamaj”. Witnesses said Jubo League leader Nurul Islam and other activists, named Shaheen and Bablu, roughed up Hossain because he wrote a report on the disruption of relief activities. Police arrested Islam after the victim filed a complaint against the three Jubo League activists. However, Islam was later released when Awami League activists and members of the league’s various front organisations laid siege to the local police station for several hours. They also held a protest rally on highways, disrupting traffic for about an hour and a half. Jubo League activists also threatened several other local journalists.
Following the threats, most local journalists left their homes with their family members. They have all suffered from the recent flooding and urgently need money and support for post flood rehabilitation, but their security has been threatened by the ruling party minister, leaders and activists. Local police have failed to protect the journalists.
Satkhira was among the worst-hit towns in recent flooding. The state minister for social welfare was assigned to oversee relief operations in the district. There have been many complaints of misappropriation of relief funds by ruling party members, including criticism by local officials. Nevertheless, the minister became furious at journalists for reporting on the story.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the prime minister and home affairs minister:
– urging them to take immediate action on these threats and harassment
– calling on them to call the state minister for social welfare back from Satkhira district
– calling on them to launch an inquiry into these recent events
– urging them to provide security for journalists in order to allow them to carry out their professional work and support their families, who urgently require post-flood rehabilitation
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:Sheikh Hasina
Honourable Prime Minister of the PR Bangladesh
Fax: +88 02 811 3244 / 811 1015Mohd. Nasim
Minister for Home Affairs of the PR Bangladesh
Fax: +88 02 861 9667 / 861 4788Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
