(RSF/IFEX) – On 4 April 2004, journalist Delwar Hossain, a local correspondent for the daily “Jugantor”, was seriously wounded in the head and back after two unidentified youths fired several gunshots at him in Keraniganj, a southern district of the capital, Dacca. According to eyewitnesses, Hossain was talking to a salesman at the offices of […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 4 April 2004, journalist Delwar Hossain, a local correspondent for the daily “Jugantor”, was seriously wounded in the head and back after two unidentified youths fired several gunshots at him in Keraniganj, a southern district of the capital, Dacca.
According to eyewitnesses, Hossain was talking to a salesman at the offices of Cimax Sign, an advertising agency, when two adolescents entered. The youths asked the journalist to identify himself and subsequently fired several shots in his direction before fleeing. Following surgery and 24 hours in intensive care, doctors said Hossain was out of danger.
The following day, Hossain said he was targeted because of an article he wrote in which he condemned the murder of a businessman by members of a local criminal gang called “Five Star”. The journalist said he had received death threats from the gang shortly before the shooting.
RSF condemned the attack on Hossain. “As long as local gangsters can operate with complete impunity and only the media has the courage to expose them, the lives of Bangladeshi journalists will continue to be in danger. Unless the government acts in a strong manner, the situation can only get worse,” the organisation said.
The Keraniganj district is considered to be a high-risk area. Murder, extortion, robbery and rape are daily occurrences. On 5 April, members of the local press club held a demonstration to demand the immediate arrest of those responsible for the attack on Hossain.
