The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in conducting a thorough and impartial investigation into the police attacks during the elections to the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on March 15 when at least nine journalists were injured.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the New York-based independent media watchdog said the authorities must hold the perpetrators accountable and return any equipment confiscated from reporters.
The government should also ensure that police are thoroughly trained so they can help, rather than imperil, members of the press covering newsworthy events, said Carlos Martinez de la Serna, CPJ's program director.
The journalists were assaulted after clashes broke out between lawyers supporting the ruling Awami League and the opposition BNP and police charged into the crowd swinging their batons.
Police initially said the journalists got caught up in the turmoil when law enforcers attempted to break up the unrest, and that they were investigating the attacks.
On March 16, police officials expressed regret over the incident in a meeting with local journalists but, as of March 29, they did not hold any of the officers involved in the attacks to account, the CPJ said.
Targeted attacks
During the violence, two officers with the police's Public Order Management Division slapped Zabed Akhter, a senior reporter for ATN News, shoved him to the ground, and kicked him as he repeatedly identified himself as a journalist and told them he suffered from a nerve condition. Police also pushed Jannatul Ferdous Tanvi, a senior reporter for Independent Television, as she tried to help him.
Later that day, Zabed received medical treatment for internal injuries to his waist and back at a hospital, where the two officers apologized to the journalist. But those officers were not held to account for the incident as of March 29.
Moreover, a group of 10 to 15 policemen kicked and used a bamboo stick to beat Md Humaun Kabir, a senior camera operator for ATN Bangla who was filming the unrest, knocking him to the ground. Policemen continued to slap him as he ran away, according to a video of the incident reviewed by the CPJ. He sustained a head injury.
Five or six policemen beat Maruf Hasan, a reporter for the daily Manab Zamin, in the head and back while he identified himself as a journalist. They also insulted him with vulgar language and confiscated his microphone, which they had not returned as of March 29, the CPJ said.
Five policemen also beat Mohammad Fazlul Haque, who is a senior reporter for the online news outlet Jago News.
According to those news reports and the journalists who spoke with CPJ, police also attacked Nur Mohammad, a reporter for the daily Ajker Patrika; Ibrahim Hossain, a camera operator for Boishakhi Television; Kabir Hossain, a reporter for the daily Kalbela; and Mehedi Hassan Dalim, a reporter for online portal Dhaka Post.
Suvra Kanti Das, a senior photojournalist for the daily Prothom Alo, told CPJ by phone that he was also covering the elections when an officer grabbed him by the shirt, demanded to see his media identification card, insulted him with vulgar language, and ordered him to leave the premises, which he did.
