Three local journalists, including The Daily Star’s Shariatpur correspondent, were allegedly assaulted by leaders and activists of BNP while covering a protest rally in support of the Shariatpur Deputy Commissioner Tahsina Begum.
The injured journalists are The Daily Star’s Shariatpur correspondent Jahid Hasan; News24 and Jago News district correspondent Bidhan Majumder; and daily Manobkantha’s district correspondent Muhammad Borkot Molla.
The assault happened when a group of leaders and activists of Shariatpur BNP and its affiliated organisations under the banner of “general people” of Shariatpur organised a protest rally around 10:00am today, alleging that journalists had humiliated the DC in the name of a demonstration on Sunday.
Despite repeated attempts over phone till 9:00pm today, The Daily Star could not reach DC Tahsina Begum for comments about the incident. She also did not respond to a WhatsApp message sent by this newspaper.
On Sunday, a group of journalists formed a human chain and staged a demonstration in front of the DC’s office after the Shariatpur district administration on Saturday night demolished a boundary wall of the Shariatpur Press Club.
Speaking to reporters about today’s incident, three injured journalists alleged that around 10 to 12 people assaulted them while taking photographs and recording videos of the protest rally.
At that time, they were punched, slapped and kicked, they said.
The injured journalists took treatment at Shariatpur Sadar Hospital.
Journalist Jahid Hasan said, “When I was recording a video, district BNP’s joint general secretary Arifuzzaman Molla suddenly snatched my mobile phone and tore my ID card. At that time, he also slapped and punched me.”
News24 and Jago News district correspondent Bidhan Majumder alleged that a group of BNP men swooped on him while covering their protest.
“I ran away from the scene and went to a safe place,” he said.
Another journalist, Borkot Molla, alleged that he sustained injuries on his left hand after a group of BNP protesters led by their leader Arifuzzaman attacked him while covering their rally.
Arifuzzaman Molla, who was accused of attacking the journalist, told media, “We did not beat any journalist. There was a scuffle with them.”
When asked why the journalists were beaten, he said, “Someone is beating them. You wait, the journalists will write, and we will beat them again. We have a list of many journalists. By the grace of Allah, we will take action against all of them by Tuesday evening.”
Shah Mohammad Abdus Salam, vice-president of Shariatpur district BNP, told reporters that the journalists behaved unjustly with the DC. They could not demand her removal in that way.
“Some criminals and allies of fascism have carried out such activities under the guise of journalism to tarnish the image of the BNP government. That is why the protest rally was held,” he claimed.
“I do not know whether any journalist was harassed or assaulted there,” he added.
Abul Hossain Sardar, president of the District Press Club and also a vice president of Shariatpur BNP, condemned the attack and demanded that all those involved be identified and brought to justice following an investigation.
