Journalist leaders are saying they are disappointed with the government for its inaction in identifying and arresting men who attacked journalists covering a protest on August 5.
Many journalist leaders said the law enforcement agencies are showing reluctance in identifying the attackers even though photos and videos of them swooping media workers have been published in a number of media outlets.
Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Secretary General Shaban Mahmood said they had planned to organize a sit-in program on the Home Ministry premises to press home their demand on August 16.
“But we cancelled the program under unavoidable circumstances. We will undertake the same program at the same venue on August 28,” he said. Shaban alleged that policemen who were on duty during the August 5 attack did not even approach to protect the journalists attacked.
“The lawmen also refrained from stopping the attackers, proving their negligence while on duty,” he said.
Criticizing the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) chief’s call to file cases to help identify the culprits, the journalist leader said: “When several people were arrested for spreading rumours during the road safety movement, there was no issue of filing a case. But when it came to our colleagues being assaulted, we are being told to lodge cases.”
He also held the Home Ministry officials responsible for the procrastination.
At least 23 media workers were assaulted and their equipment vandalized by unidentified attackers while covering student protests in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi on August 5.
On August 13, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammad Javed Patwary said detectives were still working on the matter. The IGP said a team of DMP Detective Branch (DB) was working to identify the culprits who attacked journalists.
DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia has said police are waiting for journalists to file cases over the attack.
Shaban Mahmood said they want to rely on the intelligence team working on to confirm identify of the attackers.
“If they attackers are not arrested by August 28, we have decided in principle to go for rather tougher programs,” he warned.
Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) General Secretary Syed Shukur Ali Shuvo said that they are keeping up the pressure on the government for immediate arrest of the attackers, but in vain.
Seconding the BFUJ leader’s remarks, Shuvo, too, said they suspect negligence by the law enforcement agencies.
Both the journalist leaders said they along with Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) will separately submit memorandums to the home minister on August 28, as part of their protests.
When contacted, DMP Additional Commissioner Abdul Baten said they were working to identify the attackers and the press will be updated about the development, if there is any.
This reporter made repeated attempts to reach prime minister’s Media Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury over the phone for his comments on the situation, but he remained unreachable.
On August 7, leaders and members of different journalist associations issued a 72-hour ultimatum to identify the attackers on the journalists during the students’ protest staging nine-point demand to ensure safe roads.
Two days later, DRU President Saiful Islam said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal cannot avoid his responsibility for the fact that those attacking media professionals during the student movement for safe roads are roaming free.
