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.
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