(RSF/IFEX) – On 14 January 2003, RSF protested the recent attack on two journalists by a leader of the country’s ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the central town of Rupganj. In a letter to Home Minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, RSF demanded that those responsible for the assault on “Dainik Jugantor” correspondent A. Hye Milon […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 14 January 2003, RSF protested the recent attack on two journalists by a leader of the country’s ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the central town of Rupganj.
In a letter to Home Minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, RSF demanded that those responsible for the assault on “Dainik Jugantor” correspondent A. Hye Milon and “Dainik Manavzamin” correspondent S. A. Sohel be punished. The organisation also expressed its concern over the erosion of press freedom in the country. Journalists from the national press who reported on the 10 January attack against Milon and Sohel have also received threats.
Milon and Sohel were stopped while returning home on a motor-bike and beaten by Aminul Islam, head of the local BNP branch. Police were alerted by the journalists’ screams and intervened, according to the daily “Prothom Alo”. Islam was arrested and jailed and the journalists filed a complaint against him. The local BNP head was reportedly upset over newspaper articles about his love life.
Since reports of the attack first appeared in the press, Milon and Sohel have been threatened by a gang of thugs. Gang members have also demanded that the prosecution of Islam be discontinued. Five correspondents for major national dailies were also threatened on 12 January, apparently with the backing of Abu Bakkar Siddiqi, a police officer in the town of Bhulta who is Islam’s friend. Nineteen local journalists have appealed to the prime minister and the Narayanganj district police chief for protection.
