Media Release: Bangladesh
April 17, 2013
Bangladesh partners in the South Asian Media Solidarity Network (SAMSN) inform the
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) about an attack on journalists in
the Dhaka University campus by activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League
(BCL), student affiliate of the ruling party, the Awami League.
The incident
occurred on April 14 after a group of journalists went to the university campus
to inquire into reports that the youth activists had been extorting money from
pedestrians and passersby on the occasion of the Bangla New Year, or Pahela
Boisakh.
Among the
journalists who were assaulted were Ahmed Zaif, of the Bangla daily Prothom Alo, Moloy Kumar Dutta of the
news agency, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Protik Chakrabarty of the Daily Star, Sujan Mondol of the online
news service benews24.com. Dulal Samaddar of the Dhaka University journalism
department, who was with the group of journalists, was also attacked.
SAMSN takes
note of the prompt identification of the assailants by the BCL’s leadership in
Dhaka University and the assurance held out that they will be subject to due
sanctions.
For
further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919
The IFJ
represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries
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