(Media Watch/IFEX) – The following is a 9 August 2001 Media Watch press release: Journalist attacked Bulu Sharif, the Magura (district town of south-western Bangladesh) correspondent for the daily Jugantor, was seriously injured when a group of thugs linked to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) attacked him on the night of 7 August. The journalist […]
(Media Watch/IFEX) – The following is a 9 August 2001 Media Watch press release:
Journalist attacked
Bulu Sharif, the Magura (district town of south-western Bangladesh) correspondent for the daily Jugantor, was seriously injured when a group of thugs linked to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) attacked him on the night of 7 August. The journalist was admitted to hospital. He already underwent one operation to his left eye and his doctors say he will likely need further treatment.
Sources within Sharif’s family said that the journalist had recently written a report on the election situation in the district. Following the publication of the news in the daily Jugantor on 6 August, the former agriculture minister of the BNP government and local BNP leader Mr. Majid-ul-Haq became very annoyed with Sharif and the daily Jugantor. The following day, a relative and close aide of Mr. Haq, Shafiqul Islam Romun, threatened Sharif. Finally, on 7 August, at around 8:45 p.m., when Sharif was on his way home, Romun and two of his associates attacked the journalist with a sharp knife. The attack took place within 500 yards of the local police station but it was very dark at the time. Sharif’s attackers tried to kill him, but during the attack a truck arrived and the miscreants ran away. Local people brought Sharif to the local hospital. Later that night, he was transferred to Faridpur General Hospital. Doctors operated on his left eye and said he will need another operation to his left eye and nose. A case was filed with the local police station, but nobody has been arrested to date.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– expressing concern about the attack on Sharif
– urging the authorities to take immediate action towards arresting and punishing the authors of the attack
Appeals To
Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed
Honourable President
Fax: +880 2 96566242Justice Latifur Rahma
Chief Advisor of the caretaker government
Fax: +880 2 8113244Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
