(Media Watch/IFEX) – The following is a 20 April 2002 Media Watch press release: Several journalists in Bangladesh have received death threats. A group of criminals attacked a journalist’s house. At least one journalist was injured and one fled with his family to save his life. 1. On 18 April 2002, a group of organised […]
(Media Watch/IFEX) – The following is a 20 April 2002 Media Watch press release:
Several journalists in Bangladesh have received death threats. A group of criminals attacked a journalist’s house. At least one journalist was injured and one fled with his family to save his life.
1. On 18 April 2002, a group of organised criminals raided journalist Faruk Hossain Chowdhury’s house in Pabna. Chowdhury works as the district correspondent for the daily “Prothom Alo”. Police and eyewitnesses said that the group, led by Majibur, Jabbar, Sohrab and Belal, known criminals operating in the area, attacked Chowdhury’s house. Chowdhury was not home at the time, but his elderly father was injured during the break-in.
Criminals operating in the area were angered by some of Chowdhury’s investigative reports on their activities. A case was filed with the police but so far no arrests have been made
2. M.A. Faisal, Tala correspondent for the daily “Runner”, published in Jessore, is recovering in hospital after being severely injured during an attack by individuals belonging to the ruling party. On 9 April 2002, a report on the intimidation of individuals in Tala who wished to participate in a tender process at an Upzilla Nirbahi Officer’s office (office of the local administrator) was published in the daily “Runner”. At around midday, a group of criminals attacked Faisal near the Tala Government college area. They hit him in the head and used a hammer to break his leg. He was immediately taken to a local hospital. A local ruling party leader, Altaf Hossain, visited Faisal in the hospital and told him: “Faisal, I warned you not to report on that issue, now look at what has happened as a result.” He also suggested that the journalist not write a report that could annoy his party “boys.” A case was filed with the Tala police station. The assailants’ names were mentioned but no one was arrested.
3. Johurul Haque, Sarishabari correspondent for the daily “Jugantor”, took shelter in the district town of Jamalpur with his family in order to save his life. A masked criminal raided Haque’s house on 3 and 9 April 2002 and tried to kill him and his wife. Haque said the criminal may have been angered by his recent reporting.
4. On 7 April 2002, the court granted bail to Shakhawat Hossain Ibne Mobin Chowdhury, editor-in-chief of the daily “Shikol”, published in Kushtia. He was arrested on 2 April at midnight because of a 31 March “Shikol” report about a junior officer who works for the local administration. The report mentioned that the junior officer was responsible for carrying out the duties of five positions. After the report was published, Officer Masumur Rahman filed a case against “Shikol”‘s editor-in-chief at around 8:00 p.m. on 2 April. The editor-in-chief was arrested at midnight on the same day. When the editor-in-chief fell ill, he was transferred to Kushtia General Hospital and was kept there with his hands chained.
5. S. M. Saju, staff reporter for the daily “Manavzamin” in Rajshahi, received a death threat from an individual who is running for the position of ward commissioner in the upcoming city corporation election. A general diary was filed in Boalia Thana in connection with the case. A report on the Rajshahi city corporation election and campaign was published in “Manavzamin” on 16 April. Candidate Nizamul Islam Khan said the report was meant to tarnish his image. He insulted Saju on the telephone and threatened to kill him. Local journalist leaders condemned the death threat.
