Bangladesh

On 26 March 2000, hundreds of people from across the country joined writer Humayun Ahmed in a silent demonstration in Sylhet, the eastern divisional town of Bangladesh. Humayun is a national award winner and one of the country’s most popular writers, novelists, playwrights and film directors. The writer’s day long hunger strike, held to protect […]

On the evening of 28 March 2000, Nur Muhammed, a correspondent with the daily “Manavjamin” and the general secretary of the press club in Karimgonj (a small town in the Kishorgonj district), was kidnapped. The assailants attempted to shoot him but he was rescued and two of his attackers were later arrested. On 26 March, […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a 24 March 2000 letter to Internal Affairs Minister Mohammed Nasim, RSF protested the detention of and charges filed against Mohiuddin Murad, a correspondent in Lakhipur (Noakhli district, south-west Bangladesh) with “Dainik Janakantha”. RSF asked the minister to do everything in his power to secure the release of the journalist. The organisation […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a 10 March 2000 letter to Home Affairs Minister Mohammed Nasim, RSF expressed concern about threats made to management of the opposition newspaper “Dainik Dinkal”. Without commenting on the accusations of complicity with the mafia made by the daily against a member of parliament, RSF asked the minister to do everything in […]

(RSF/IFEX) – The following is a 7 February 2000 press release: Paris, 7 January 2000 Bangladesh: Violence unleashed against journalists Since the beginning of the new millenium, violence against journalists has picked up smartly: an editor has been killed, six journalists attacked and three of them seriously injured, a newspaper office has been the target […]

In a 17 January 2000 letter to home affairs minister Mohammed Nasim, RSF expressed its indignation over the murder of Mir Illais Hossain, publisher and editor of “Dainik Bir Darpan”, published in Jhenaidah in the south west of the country. RSF asked the minister to conduct “a serious and thorough investigation into the reasons for […]

The following is a Media Watch listing of recent attacks against the Bangladeshi press: 1. On the first day of the new millenium, two Bangladeshi journalists received death threats. On 1 January 2000, a number of individuals from the ruling party student wing rushed to the offices of the “Banglabazar Patrika” daily in the capital […]

STATE OF PRESS FREDOM IN BANGLADESH IN 1999 Summary Report by MEDIA WATCH, Bangladesh Detailed report will be available by May 2000 1999 was a year of violence against freedom of the press in Bangladesh. It was a year of intolerance among the ruling party and opposition activists. A large number of press photographers and […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a 31 December 1999 letter to Home Affairs Minister Mohammed Nasim, RSF protested the ransacking of the offices of “Weekly Evidence”, published in Dhaka. RSF also expressed its concern that police were looking for the editor without a warrant for his arrest. The organisation asked officials to identify and bring to trial […]

In a 28 December 1999 letter to Bangladeshi Home Affairs Minister Mohammad Nasim, RSF strongly protested against further assaults on journalists. RSF said it was deeply worried that the government was “unable or unwilling to put a stop to this outbreak of violence, which is extremely prejudicial to press freedom.” RSF reminded the minister that […]

**New cases and update to IFEX alerts of 15 and 14 December 1999** (WAN/IFEX) – The following is a WAN press release: Paris, 23 December 1999 For immediate release WAN Protests Press Attacks in Bangladesh The World Association of Newspapers has asked Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed to take action against the numerous assaults […]

In a 14 December 1999 letter to Bangladeshi Home Affairs Minister Mohammed Nasim, RSF strongly protested against further assaults on journalists. RSF said it was deeply worried that the government was “unable or unwilling to put a stop to this outbreak of violence, which is extremely prejudicial to press freedom.” RSF reminded the minister that […]

(Media Watch/IFEX) – On 12 December 1999, at least fifteen journalists were attacked by opposition party activists and injured in the port city of Chittagong. Two journalists were hospitalised and the other thirteen were released from hospital after receiving treatment for their injuries. The journalists had gathered at Laldighi Maidan in the afternoon of 12 […]

In a 7 December 1999 letter to Information Minister Abu Sayeed, RSF protested the suspension of the newspaper “Weekly Evidence”, published in Dhaka. Reminding him that the suspension was in contradiction to the United Nations’ International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, RSF asked that the newspaper be allowed to resume publication as soon as […]

In a 12 November 1999 letter to Bangladeshi Home Affairs Minister Mohammed Nasim, RSF protested an attack on a photographer. He was the third journalist injured by riot police this past week. RSF asked Nasim to enforce the law and to control the police’s behaviour. RSF also reminded him that “it is the duty of […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a 27 October 1999 letter, RSF asked Bangladeshi Home Affairs Minister Mohammed Nasim to ensure that journalists and media workers can cover meetings and demonstrations safely. The organisation was protesting against attacks carried out by policemen and political activists on at least fifteen journalists on duty between 21 and 23 October. RSF […]