Bangladesh’s Editors’ Council has condemned attacks and threats against journalists, calling for impartial investigations and exemplary action against those responsible…reports Asian Lite News Desk
Bangladesh’s Editors’ Council has condemned a series of attacks, threats and harassment targeting journalists across the country, calling on authorities to launch prompt and impartial investigations and take exemplary action against those responsible.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Council described the October 4 attack on journalists at Rajshahi University as “extremely concerning” and stressed the need to protect journalists while they carry out their professional duties.
The Council said journalists reporting from public events were gathering information in the public interest and were not acting on behalf of any particular side. Disagreement with a journalist’s report, opinion or professional activities, it said, could not justify attacks, threats or attempts to obstruct their work.
“An attack on a journalist is not only an attack on a professional; it is an attack on independent journalism, freedom of expression and the public’s right to know,” the Council said.
It added that journalists’ safety was not a special privilege but an essential requirement for maintaining a free, democratic and accountable society.
“Independent journalism is not possible in an environment of fear, threats and violence,” the statement said.
The Council urged the government and other relevant stakeholders to ensure immediate and lawful action in cases involving attacks on journalists and called for measures to prevent similar incidents.
It outlined five demands, including prompt and impartial investigations into recent attacks, threats and harassment, followed by exemplary legal action against those responsible regardless of their identities or political affiliations.
The Council also called for journalists to be provided with a safe working environment while covering political programmes, university events, court proceedings, government offices and other public gatherings.
It demanded an immediate end to obstruction, intimidation and harassment of journalists carrying out their professional duties.
The Council further called on political parties, their affiliated organisations and other groups to make clear commitments to protecting journalists and upholding independent journalism.
Rajshahi University attack
The Editors’ Council statement followed an attack at Rajshahi University in which at least 10 people were reportedly seriously injured after leaders and members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) student wing, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), allegedly attacked journalists and students.
The incident took place on Sunday night outside Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall at the university, according to local media reports.
The injured journalists were identified as Arifuzzaman Korban, university correspondent for bdnews24; Zahidul Islam of Agamir Shomoy; Noor Ahsan Mridul of The Daily Star; and Mainul Islam Raju of Samakal.
The incident prompted widespread condemnation and calls for those responsible to face action.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) also expressed serious concern over what it described as an “armed attack and death threats” against journalists at Rajshahi University.
The anti-corruption watchdog called for justice regardless of the political identity or influence of those responsible.
The Dhaka University Journalists’ Association (DUJA) also condemned the incident and called for exemplary punishment for those involved.
It urged authorities to take measures to ensure journalists can work safely on university campuses.
The Editors’ Council said protecting journalists was essential to ensuring that independent reporting could continue without fear or intimidation, and called for stronger action to prevent further attacks.
