DHAKA, Bangladesh — A series of violent assaults on journalists in Bangladesh this week has sparked widespread condemnation from media rights groups. Two reporters were attacked near a courthouse in Barishal, while three employees of a journalists’ association sustained severe injuries during an armed confrontation in Dhaka, highlighting a disturbing increase in threats faced by the media.
On March 27, journalists N Amin Russell and Monirul Islam were severely beaten while covering news at the Barishal Court compound. The attackers, reportedly led by a local political group’s leader, set Russell’s motorcycle ablaze and accused them of political bias before fleeing the scene. Both journalists are currently recovering at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College.
The Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum (BMSF), a prominent media rights organization, and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have jointly denounced these attacks. They urged the interim government to ensure the safety of the press and counter the impunity currently threatening media freedom in the nation.
In a separate incident on March 28, violence targeted Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU), an organization for journalists. Three of its members, Zakir Hossain Babul, Zahidul Islam, and Robidul Islam, were assaulted by a group near DRU headquarters. The assailants, including employees of a local courier service, wielded rods, machetes, and hockey sticks. The incident reportedly stemmed from an altercation involving a forged ration card discovered by one of the journalists.
Both Zahidul and Babul sustained critical head injuries and were hospitalized at Dhaka Medical College. Following the attack, police swiftly detained two suspects, signaling a quick response to the filings made by affected journalists.
The repeated assaults raise major concerns about the safety of journalists in Bangladesh. Media personnel are finding themselves increasingly vulnerable in a profession that consistently exposes them to risk, especially when dealing with touchy political issues or corruption.
These incidents occur amidst a broader context of media suppression in South Asia, where journalists often face threats and violence. Legal frameworks and protective measures for journalists are either lacking or ineffectively enforced, contributing to a culture of fear and censorship.
In response to the growing unrest, media advocacy groups are calling for immediate government intervention to protect journalists and uphold democratic values like press freedom and free speech. Without these, the truth remains endangered, hidden behind a veil of coercion and intimidation.
The plea for action is clear: only with decisive and protective measures can media professionals safely fulfill their critical role in society. As watchdogs of democracy, journalists need a secure environment to report the facts, unimpeded by violent retribution or political agenda.
The international community is also urged to stand in solidarity with Bangladeshi journalists, highlighting the essential need for global attention to an increasingly perilous media landscape. As these developments unfold, the need for unity and swift action in defense of press freedoms has never been more urgent in Bangladesh.