(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is protesting attacks carried out against several journalists in Bangladesh this month. According to RSF’s information, during the three-day nationwide strike called by mainstream opposition parties from 23 to 25 February 1999, at least six journalists were assaulted. On 24 February, Abdus Samad Jewel, a photographer with “Dainik Janakantha”, and Shorab Alam, […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is protesting attacks carried out against several
journalists in Bangladesh this month. According to RSF’s information,
during the three-day nationwide strike called by mainstream opposition
parties from 23 to 25 February 1999, at least six journalists were
assaulted. On 24 February, Abdus Samad Jewel, a photographer with
“Dainik Janakantha”, and Shorab Alam, with “Dainik Sangbad”, were
attacked by anti-strike militants. One camera was smashed. The same day,
at least four journalists were injured by riot police in front of the
National Press Club in Dhaka as photographers were taking pictures of a
person severely beaten by the police. At midday, a vehicle of the
newspaper “Ajker Kagoj” was attacked by opposition activists who hurled
home-made bombs at it.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 15 February and 11 February 1999**
Background Information
During the previous nationwide strike from 9 to 11 February, the “Daily
Star”‘s office in Dhaka was ransacked by opposition activists. During
the three days of demonstrations, at least five journalists were
violently attacked by opposition militants in Dhaka and the southern
city of Chittagong, even though they had clearly identified themselves
as members of the press. By way of response, on 11 February, members of
the ruling Awami League raided the offices of the daily “Dainik
Sangram”, organ of the Muslim fundamentalist party Jamaat-e-Islami.
Meanwhile, three photographers were assaulted by Awami League
sympathisers.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the Prime Minister:
agreed to support press freedom in a common statement issued during the
1996 general election campaign
journalists are punished
respect the work of Bangladeshi journalists and to ensure that media
workers can cover political events without fear for their safety
Appeals To
Her Excellency Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
Prime Minister
Prime Minister’s Office
Old Airport Road, Tejgaon
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Fax: +880 2 813 244 / 811 015 / 813 243
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
