At least seven journos hurt in attacks

At least six photojournalists and one reporter were injured in an attack allegedly by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists in the city’s Dhanmondi area yesterday when they were taking photos of action by police and youths against student agitators.

The injured photojournalists were identified as AM Ahad of Associated Press (AP), Zawad of Janakantha, Palash of Daily Bonik Barta, Rimon of the US-based Zuma Press, Mahmud Zaman Ovi of bdnews24.com, and Rahat Karim, a freelance photojournalist. Enamul Hasan, a photography student of Pathsala South Asian Media institute, was also injured.

The BCL cadres cordoned off the journalists and particularly looked for those from the vernacular daily Prothom Alo. The newspaper’s staff correspondent Ahmed Deepto was beaten with sticks and rods by 15–20 activists. He was admitted to Square Hospital with severe  injuries. Among the photojournalists, Ahad was beaten mercilessly allegedly by eight to 10 BCL cadres. Witnesses said the attackers, mostly wearing helmets, broke Ahad’s mobile phone and camera as well. Ahad was taken to Lab Aid Hospital. Doctors said he had sustained head injuries and could not talk. He was being kept under close observation, they added. The incident took place around 2 pm in the presence of law enforcers. Witnesses said police did not take any step to prevent the miscreants, who accompanied them in chase and counter chase with the agitating students. Earlier, law enforcers and students were engaged in chase and counter chase as the agitators tried to break police cordons at Jhigatola intersection. Police fired teargas shells to disperse the protesters, who retaliated by throwing brickbats.

A photojournalist, who escaped the attack by BCL activists, said: “We are feeling insecure in discharging our duties. The attackers target us if they see cameras with us or see us taking photographs,” he said.

Another photojournalist said the BCL activists accompanied by police chased the photojournalists when they noticed their cameras.

The unruly BCL men also vandalised a vehicle of the private TV channel DBC and tried to assault a female journalist of Channel-i.

Sources said leaders and activists of Dhaka North units of BCL, Jubo League and Dhaka College Chhatra League were involved in the attack on the journalists. On Saturday, BCL activists had allegedly damaged the vehicles of Nagorik TV and the office of Priyo.com.

Condemning the attacks, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) former president Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul said: “Journalists must be allowed to perform their professional duties. They should not be attacked.”

He expressed hope that senior leaders of the party whose activists were involved in the attacks would take necessary measures against them.

At least seven journos hurt in attacks

At least six photojournalists and one reporter were injured in an attack allegedly by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists in the citys Dhanmondi area yesterday when they were taking photos of action by police and youths against student agitators. The injured photojournalists were identified as AM Ahad of Associated Press (AP), Zawad of Janakantha, Palash of Daily Bonik Barta, Rimon of the US-based Zuma Press, Mahmud Zaman Ovi of bdnews24.com, and Rahat Karim, a freelance photojournalist. Enamul Hasan, a photography student of Pathsala South Asian Media institute, was also injured. The BCL cadres cordoned off the journalists and particularly looked for those from the vernacular daily Prothom Alo. The newspapers staff correspondent Ahmed Deepto was beaten with sticks and rods by 1520 activists. He was admitted to Square Hospital with severe injuries. Among the photojournalists, Ahad was beaten mercilessly allegedly by eight to 10 BCL cadres. Witnesses said the attackers, mostly wearing helmets, broke Ahads mobile phone and camera as well. Ahad was taken to Lab Aid Hospital. Doctors said he had sustained head injuries and could not talk. He was being kept under close observation, they added. The incident took place around 2 pm in the presence of law enforcers. Witnesses said police did not take any step to prevent the miscreants, who accompanied them in chase and counter chase with the agitating students. Earlier, law enforcers and students were engaged in chase and counter chase as the agitators tried to break police cordons at Jhigatola intersection. Police fired teargas shells to disperse the protesters, who retaliated by throwing brickbats. A photojournalist, who escaped the attack by BCL activists, said: We are feeling insecure in discharging our duties. The attackers target us if they see cameras with us or see us taking photographs, he said. Another photojournalist said the BCL activists accompanied by police chased the photojournalists when they noticed their cameras. The unruly BCL men also vandalised a vehicle of the private TV channel DBC and tried to assault a female journalist of Channel-i. Sources said leaders and activists of Dhaka North units of BCL, Jubo League and Dhaka College Chhatra League were involved in the attack on the journalists. On Saturday, BCL activists had allegedly damaged the vehicles of Nagorik TV and the office of Priyo.com. Condemning the attacks, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) former president Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul said: Journalists must be allowed to perform their professional duties. They should not be attacked. He expressed hope that senior leaders of the party whose activists were involved in the attacks would take necessary measures against them.