Journalist Abdullah Al Noman was attacked in Dhaka on 16 October by members of a students' political organisation working under the Bangladeshi ruling party, the Bangladesh Awami League.
This article was originally published on ifj.org on 20 October 2014.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins the Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum (BMSF) in condemning the assault on journalist Abdullah Al Noman in the capital Dhaka on Thursday, October 16, 2014.
According to reports, the cadres of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), a wing of the ruling party the Bangladesh Awami League, attacked Noman in front of MC College auditorium. Noman is the Sylhet correspondent of Banglanews24.com. It is alleged that approximately ten BCL cadres beat the journalist indiscriminately with sticks and belts, leaving him injured. Students from the MC College took him to MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital for medical treatment.
Noman had recently published several reports about the activities of BCL in MC College. Police have registered a case against the attackers, six of whom have been named by Noman, and promised to detain the perpetrators for investigation.
The IFJ said: “This is another unfortunate incident in a series of attacks on journalists by the BCL. The BCL is increasingly becoming a growing threat to journalists in Bangladesh. We urge the Bangladesh government to bring an end to this by political and legal means.”
It should be noted that the BCL beat up eight journalists at Dhaka University in July; and the general secretary of BCL at Rajshahi University allegedly threatened another journalist for not recognizing him on the phone in June, 2014.
“The Government of Bangladesh needs to ensure that perpetrators of these crimes do not go unpunished. It is critical the government takes a stand against these crimes and gives the message clearly that these acts of violence and threats will not be tolerated or excused.”
