Three sports journalists’ organisations have demanded an impartial investigation and exemplary action over an alleged police assault on journalists during the SAFF Championship in Dhaka, issuing a Saturday deadline for the authorities to address their concerns or face a joint protest.
The Bangladesh Sports Press Association (BSPA), Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association (BSJA) and Bangladesh Sports Journalists Community (BSJC) sent separate letters to SAFF president Kazi Salahuddin, Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president Tabith Awal and State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque on Thursday, outlining their demands and seeking immediate intervention.
The incident took place on Wednesday following Bangladesh’s match against Sri Lanka at the National Stadium, where several journalists were allegedly assaulted by police while performing their professional duties in the designated mixed zone.
According to the organisations, Ekattor Television senior reporter Nahiyan Bin Jashim, sports reporter Hasan Sojib and cameraman KM Mizan were among those targeted. Despite displaying valid tournament accreditation cards, the journalists were allegedly obstructed by police personnel.
The organisations claimed that around 20 to 25 policemen subsequently attacked the media workers. Sojib sustained serious injuries to his leg and suffered bleeding from his ear, while Mizan suffered an injury to his elbow and had his camera vandalised. Jashim was also physically assaulted.
Apart from condemning the incident, the three bodies raised serious concerns over the tournament's overall organisation, accusing SAFF, its event management partner TSA Sports & Entertainment and the BFF of failures in media management, security arrangements and coordination.
They alleged that the mixed zone did not meet FIFA and AFC standards, while journalists had faced persistent mismanagement and discriminatory treatment in the media tribune throughout the competition.
The organisations called for an independent investigation into the alleged assault, identification and punishment of the police personnel involved, and an inquiry into the alleged negligence of the event management agency. They also demanded proper medical treatment and compensation for the injured journalists, alongside improved working conditions and security at sports venues nationwide.
In their letter to SAFF, the organisations set November 14 as the deadline for a fair investigation, visible action against those responsible, publication of the inquiry report into TSA's alleged negligence and the introduction of international-standard facilities in the mixed zone and media tribune.
They warned that failure to meet the demands would prompt the three organisations to stage a joint protest outside the National Stadium before Saturday's semifinal matches.
The letters were signed by BSPA general secretary Sudipta Ahmed Ananda, BSJA general secretary SM Sumon and BSJC general secretary Shafiqul Islam Shameem.
