(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to the head of the caretaker government, Latifur Rahman, RSF asked the police to guarantee the security of journalists working in Gaurnadi. “If parts of the country were off limits to journalists during the general elections, this would be a serious infringement of press freedom,” said RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to the head of the caretaker government, Latifur Rahman, RSF asked the police to guarantee the security of journalists working in Gaurnadi. “If parts of the country were off limits to journalists during the general elections, this would be a serious infringement of press freedom,” said RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. “We ask you to act firmly against the political activists who are trying to prevent journalists from freely covering the country’s current affairs,” added Ménard.
According to information obtained by RSF, seven journalists were forced to flee the city of Gaurnadi, near Barisal (southern Bangladesh), after being the target of repeated assaults and death threats. Jahirul Islam of “Prothom Alo”, Gias Uddin of “Dainik Ittefaq”, Mohammad Jamal Uddin of “Dainik Jugantor”, Mohammad Hanif of “Dainik Provat”, Asaduzzaman Ripon of “Bhorer Kagoj”, Khandoker Muniruzzaman Monir of “Dainik Dinkal” and Kandker Kauser Hossain of “Ajker Kagoj”, all correspondents for national dailies in Guarnadi, decided to leave the town during the week of 23 July 2001. They filed a complaint with the police against their attackers on 30 June, but received no assurance about their safety. The journalists who implicated activists of the Chattra League, the Awami League’s student front, and notably their leader, Reazul Karim Akandh, maintain that he enjoys impunity in the city. However, according to recent reports, Babu, a Chattra League member, has been arrested by police.
Islam was the victim of an assassination attempt on 16 July. Activists injected him with poison from a syringe. He was rushed to Barisal Medical College Hospital in a coma. Gias Uddin, Mohammad Jamal Uddin and Hanif were also attacked in recent weeks. Ripon, Monir and Hossain have received death threats.
Moreover, individuals attacked the residence of Al Amin Shahriar, “Dainik Manav Zamin” correspondent in Bhola (southern Bangladesh), with homemade bombs. The journalist was not injured, but his older brother was slightly injured. Last week, Al Amin received a death threat from Chattra League activists who were critical of his articles on corruption and nepotism of local Awami League leaders. The journalist was beaten up on 21 October 2000 by activists. He had just published an article on the deterioration of safety conditions in Bhola. After Al Amin filed a complaint with the police, his attackers threatened him with reprisals.
Finally, Ashok Dey, correspondent for “Dainik Kalyan” in Keshabpur (near Jessore in the southwest of the country), was attacked by unknown people who broke his hand. This assault followed a complaint filed by the journalist on 18 July against activists who threatened to kill him. According to some witnesses, these attackers may be Awami League members.
