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TV journalists attacked in south-eastern Bangladesh
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins the Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum (BMSF) in condemning the attacks on three television journalists in Chittagong in south-eastern Bangladesh on March 27. The IFJ demands the immediate arrest of the attackers. According to reports, three journalists including assignment editor, Mithun Mostafiz, Mohsin Chowdhury, Chittagong bureau chief and photojournalist Ahadul Islam Babu, of the privately-run Boishakhi television channel were attacked. The trio were attacks as they were recording footage of an illegal hill cutting process in the city's Khulshi area. The process of hill cutting includes cutting into the hills around the port city of Chittagong for residential developments. The process is illegal and detrimental to the local environment, as well as creating safety hazards for those living at the bottom of the hills.Chowdhury, who is also the general secretary of Chittagong Press Club, said: "The miscreants attacked us with sticks and damaged our video camera as well, while we were recording videos of soil removal with 20-25 trucks, from a hill, owned by the Ispahani Group at 1 am."The attackers’ fled the scene after the journalists called the police. The journalists have also filed a complaint at the Khulshi police station.The IFJ said: “Journalists should never be attacked or harassed for doing their job. This attack is a violation of journalist rights and safety. We call on the local authorities to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice. Ensuring the safety and security of journalists and media should be a priority of the authorities across Bangladesh.”