DHAKA (NPTV/IFJ*/RSF/CPJ): Four journalists lost their lives, 160 got injured and four women Media workers were assaulted during the recent university students-led riots.
Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) had confirmed that 2 journalists were slain on 18th day of July.
Shakil Hossain, of the daily Bhorer Awaj newspaper, was killed while reporting in Bhorer Awaj, Gazipur City.
On 18 July, Dhaka Times journalist Hasan Mehedi, 35, was fatally shot in the head while covering a clash between law enforcement and protesting students and activists in Dhaka’s southern Jatra Bari area.
Journalist Abu Taher Md Turab, affiliated with the daily Jalalabad and daily Naya Diganta newspapers, was killed on 19th day of July when police began firing at protesters in the northeast city of Sylhet.
Journalist Pradip Kumar Bhawmik, correspondent for the daily Khabarpatra, was among those confirmed to be killed when he and four others were dragged from the Royganj Press Club in the country’s northern Sirajganj District and beaten by a group of unidentified assailants.
According to IFJ* it “continues to monitor attacks on the Media in Bangladesh, standing in solidarity with its affiliate, the Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum (BMSF), and journalists, and media workers in the country.”
CPJ said it was “deeply disturbed by the killing of journalists Hasan Mehedi, Md. Shakil Hossain, and Abu Taher Md Turab while they were reporting on the quota protests…The Bangladesh government must hold to account those responsible for all assaults on journalists and fully restore internet and phone services to allow the free flow of information needed to cover matters of public interest.”
According to Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF): ” … 30 journalists were assaulted and wounded. Some were beaten or shot at by the police…some were attacked by counter-protesters supporting the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the ruling Awami League party, which actively supported police repression. Others were caught up in the clashes.”
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*The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 140 countries
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