Rajshahi University Journalist Association (RUJA) has condemned the attacks on journalists in Dhaka during the ongoing student protest for road safety, urging the authorities to bring the culprits to justice as soon as possible.
RUJA President Salekin Ahmed and General Secretary Zahirul Islam Zahid made the joint statement Monday morning.
The duo said: “This attack on journalists who were carrying out their duties is condemnable, especially since the protest is about safety. This also highlights the failure of the authorities to provide said safety.”
“Such attacks are an offense against objective journalism, and they are fueled by a lack of consequences to such actions. We demand that swift, exemplary punishments be doled out to those responsible,” the statement said.
On Sunday afternoon, a number of journalists were attacked with rods and other local weapons near the Science Laboratory intersection on Dhanmondi.
Daily Prothom Alo staff correspondent Ahmed Dipto, Associated Press (AP) photojournalist AM Ahad, Daily Bonik Barta journalist Palash Shikder, freelance photojournalist Rahat Karim, Daily Janakantha’s Jawad, Prothom Alo senior photographer Sajid Hossain, online news portal BDMorning’s Abu Sufian Jewel, Channel I’s Samia Rahman, Marzuk Hasan, Hasan Zubair, and N Kayer Hasin were injured in the attack.
