(Media Watch/IFEX) – The following is an 18 March 2002 Media Watch press release: JOURNALISTS RECEIVE DEATH THREATS Two journalists have received death threats in two separate incidents. In a third incident, terrorists entered the premises of a press club and openly threatened journalists. 1. Tuhin Aronnaya, Meherpur district correspondent for the daily Prothom Alo, […]
(Media Watch/IFEX) – The following is an 18 March 2002 Media Watch press release:
JOURNALISTS RECEIVE DEATH THREATS
Two journalists have received death threats in two separate incidents. In a third incident, terrorists entered the premises of a press club and openly threatened journalists.
1. Tuhin Aronnaya, Meherpur district correspondent for the daily Prothom Alo, received death threats from an underground terrorist extremist group. Prothom Alo reported that on 15 March 2002 Prothom Alo published a report stating that underground extremist groups in Meherpur always get protection from the ruling party. This report was practically written by one of the staff reporters at headquarters. However, terrorists blamed the local district correspondent for the report. The following day, in a telephone call, the terrorist group threatened to kill Tuhin. Tuhin filed a general diary with the local police station on 16 March 2002.
2. In a telephone call, unidentified terrorists threatened to kill Emran Farooq Masum, Chapainawaqbgonj district correspondent for the daily Jugantor. Jugantor reported that Masum informed the district police superintendent of the incident. The police superintendent ordered the officer in charge of sadar thana (the local police station) to investigate the incident.
3. In a separate incident, terrorists Tuhin and Tapu went to the Gaibanda District Press Club premises on 16 March 2002. While there, they threatened journalists and ordered them to withdraw the case filed against them by the press club.
On 15 March 2002, locally known terrorists Tuhin and Tapu went to the press club and attacked the press club’s office assistant. The press club management subsequently filed a case against the assailants. Police did not take any action against them, however. The following day, the two terrorists went to the press club once again and threatened the press club members. Gaibanda journalists organised a rally to protest the terrorist attack on the press club and handed over a memorandum to the deputy commissioner. So far, no one has been arrested in connection with the incident.
