The Chittagong Union of Journalists (CUJ) on Thursday gave a three-day ultimatum demanding the arrest of the lawyers who attacked two journalists on court premises.
They staged a protest rally in front of the Chittagong Press Club and demanded the cancellation of lawyers’ Bar Council certificates.
CUJ leaders said if their demands are not met, journalists from all over the country would carry out a series of agitations.
CUJ President Mohammad Ali said that journalists have always stood shoulder to shoulder with lawyers in any progressive movement in Chittagong.
Hence, attacking journalists on court premises violates the long-standing cordial relationship, he noted.
“We believe that this attack was motivated by anti-national sentiment because the journalists were assaulted while reporting on a militant attack verdict. The Bar Association should identify the perpetrators and punish them including cancelling their Bar Council certificates,” he added.
The journalists were assaulted within a week of the attack on journalist Pritam Das in the city's New Market area, CUJ General Secretary M Shamsul Islam said.
“It would be unfortunate if law enforcement agencies failed to take actions against the attackers despite having evidence like video footage and photographs of the incident,” he added.
On Wednesday, two Jamuna Television journalists were beaten up by lawyers on their way to Chittagong Court to collect news.
Jamuna Television reporter Al Amin Sikder and video journalist Asaduzzaman Limon were injured in the attack and were taken to a private hospital in Chittagong.
Kotwali police station OC Zahidul Kabir said that a case has been filed in this regard.
The case names Sahedul Haque and Ishaq Ahmed, and 10-12 unnamed individuals.
