13 May 2002

Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontières - RSF) and the Bangladesh Centre for Development, Journalism and Communication BCDJC) protested today against new organised attacks on the media by government supporters, calling for them to stop and for those responsible to be punished.
"The government¹s press freedom policy has proved to be totally ineffective to judge by these renewed attacks on journalists directly involving militant supporters of the ruling party," said RSF secretary-general Robert Ménard in a joint letter to Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. "The government must end the impunity enjoyed by those, including its own camp, who physically attack journalists," said the president of the BCDJC.
Since Begum Khaleda Zia came to power, more than 80 journalists and photographers have been attacked or threatened with death by supporters of the ruling coalition built around the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islam. Between 20 April and 2 May, two journalists were brutally attacked, six received death threats and several news-stands were vandalised.
At the beginning of May, the press club in the southern town of Motbaria was attacked by BNP supporters, who fled when police arrived. A suit was filed by a BNP activist against the club¹s president, Salam Azadi, and its secretary, Mizanur Rahman Mizu, for having distributed photocopies of articles from Dhaka newspapers which they said libelled lawmaker Rustam Ali Farazi and the prime minister. Some dailies in the capital had reported that a girl had been raped by the lawmaker¹s brother. Government supporters then attacked news-stands and told vendors that if they sold or distributed copies of three papers, Dainik Janakantha, Dainik Ittefaq and Prothom Alo, their houses would be burned down. Some copies were seized and burned.
On 2 May, six daily newspaper journalists - Delwar Hossain (of Dainik Purbanchal), Sheikh Ahsanul Karim (Dainik Manab Zamin), Rezaul Karim (Dainik Ittefaq), Babul Sardar (Dainik Janakantha), S.M Tajjudin (Dainik Prabartan) and Azadul (Dainik Runner) - were reportedly threatened with death by Sheikh Wahiduzzaman Dipu, secretary of the local BNP branch in the southwestern town of Bagerhat. All the journalists made formal complaints. The BNP official is also said to have threatened to blow up the offices of one of the papers, Dainik Purbanchal. Some of his men went to the journalists¹ homes with guns and frightened their families.
Jahangir Alam Akash, correspondent in the northern town of Rajshahi for the daily paper Dainik Sangbad, was attacked and stoned by BNP activists on 30 April on his way to a nearby village to cover the visit there of a human rights group investigating repression by BNP supporters in the region. He was injured, but managed to escape and return to town, where police refused to receive his formal complaint specifically mentioning he had been attacked by BNP supporters. The journalist had written articles about BNP repression of the region¹s minority Hindus.
On 20 April, Neaz Mohammad Khan Bitu, correspondent in the eastern town of Brahmanbaria for the Dainik Dinkal, was attacked by members of the BNP¹s student arm, Jatiyatabadi Chattra Dal (JCD). The paper had recently published an article that annoyed the local BNP secretary-general, Haji Syed Emran Reza. As the journalist was on his way to a school, the JCD official grabbed him by the scruff of the neck.
When Bitu went to lodge a complaint with the police, he was asked to write it down, but this was not accepted and the officer phoned Reza. That evening, armed men sent by Reza broke into the offices of the daily Dainik Projabandhu, dragged the journalist outside and kicked, beat and stabbed him. He was left for dead and taken to hospital. Police arrested several suspects over the next few days, but Reza was not troubled.
Reporters Without Borders will shortly publish a report on its recent 3-10 March fact-finding mission to Bangladesh.

29 November, 2001

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, Reporters Without Borders (RSF – Reporters sans Frontières) and the Bangladesh Centre for Development, Journalism and Communication (BCDJC) protested again against the violence perpetrated by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) activists against the media. "The multiplication of incidents against journalists implicating ruling party activists, discredits the government's press freedom policy", asserted Robert Ménard, RSF general secretary. "We want to remind you that the respect for press freedom appeared in your campaign programme. We ask you to meet your commitment", the BCDJC declared. Both organisations asked Begum Khaleda Zia to exercise her full influence to make the violence stop and to bring the culprits to trial. RSF and BCDJC also requested the immediate release of Shaharier Kabir and withdrawal of the charges against the journalist. He is detained for "possessing inflammatory information which can jeopardise the stability of the country."
Both organisations noted with satisfaction the government's decision to ask the police to reopen the inquiries into the murder of seven journalists over the last five years. "Fighting impunity must be a daily struggle, against every attacker, even those from one's own political camp", RSF and BDCJC added. Both organisations are ready to collaborate with the police and judiciary to identify the murderers and the people behind the murders.
Since Begum Khaleda Zia's arrival in power, at least 40 journalists and photographers have been attacked or threatened with death by activists from the new majority essentially made up of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami (fundamentalist party). In the single day of 20 October 2001, two dailies were targets of vandalism, two journalists were threatened with death and a reporter was attacked.
According to information gathered by RSF and BCDJC, a group of twenty plainclothes policemen without a warrant raided the office of the newspaper Dainik Al Ameen. After threatening the guard, policemen searched the building looking for illegal firearms. According to several testimonies, they left after failing to find anything. Dainik Al Ameen is owned by Moqbul Hossain, a former Awami League Member of Parliament, accused of corruption.
On 18 November, henchmen of ruling party Member of Parliament Abdul Momen Talukder raided the house of Rafiqul Islam Montu, correspondent of Dainik Karotua in Santahar (north of the country). They manhandled him and took him to Talukder's home. The MP criticised the journalist for not referring to him as "Honourable" or "Mister" in his articles. The correspondent was insulted before being allowed to leave. The Santahar press club immediately decided to boycott the MP.
On 12 November activists of the Jatiyatabadi Chattra Dal (JCD), a student organisation close to BNP, attacked Sardar Zobair Hossain, student and correspondent of the daily Ittefaq in Jahangirnagar University. The activists threatened him with death if he didn't leave the campus. The day before, Sardar Zobair Hossain wrote an article about this student group's implication in violence and racketeering.
On 11 November, armed activists of the Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal (JJD), the youth section of the ruling nationalist party, burst into a press conference organised in Bagerhat (south-west of the country) by Mozzamel Haque, leader of the Awami league (main opposition party). Babul Sardar, correspondent of the Dainik Janakantha, Binud Prasad Chakrabarti, correspondent of the TV channel ETV and the press agency UNB, Ahad Haider, correspondent of Prothom Alo, Shah-e-Alam Tuku, correspondent of BSS press agency, Azadul Haque, correspondent of the Dainik Runner, and Abdur Rob Mollah, correspondent of the Dainik Janmabhumi in Khulna, were wounded by the attackers. Babul Sardar was seriously wounded in the head and neck. Police arrested five attackers, among them Mahbubur Rahman Tutul, the JJD local leader responsible for the attack.
On 5 November, M.A. Raquib, correspondent of the Dainik Janakantha, and Tariqul Haque Tariq, correspondent of the Dainik Prothom Alo, in Kushtia (west of the country), received death threats by post after reporting a case implicating Bacchu Mollah, the BNP youth local leader and son of the Minister of Telecommunications. Since the publication of an article by Jahirul Islam, correspondent of the Dainik Jugantor in Kushtia, accusing Bacchu Mollah and his henchmen of violence, the relationships between press and authorities has been extremely strained. BNP officers published a press release in which they ordered the press not to write against the son of the Minister. "Some journalists use their profession as business. We will get our revenge", the BNP leaders wrote. Jahirul Islam was also under strong pressure and recognised having published wrong information. The Dainik Jugantor dismissed him and the journalist fears for his life. Bacchu Mollah's relatives have not forgiven Jahirul Islam for publishing an article which led to their leader was imprisonment.
On 3 November, Sohel Rana, photographer for the Dainik Ajker Kagoj in Chittagong (south-west of the country), was attacked and his camera stolen by members of the student movement of the Jamaat-e-Islami (fundamentalist party). The photographer covered a confrontation between the young islamists and activists of the former ruling party, the Awami league. Sohel Rana protested to an officer of the Islamist movement. He was given back his camera and received apologises.
On 30 October, Rifat bin Tuha, correspondent of the Dainik Janakantha in Narail (south-west of the country), received death threats from BNP activists. They blamed him for having criticised their party. On the same day BNP supporters attacked a news stand. Hundreds of copies of Dainik Janakantha were burnt on the public square. The journalist also asked that his safety be assured. To date, nothing has been done.
Also on 30 October, activists of the Islami Chattra Shibir, student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, threatened Akil Poddhar, correspondent of the Dainik Janakantha in Kushtia (west of the country) with death for publishing "anti-islamic" information. The fundamentalists criticise the daily for its critical articles about Osama bin Laden.
On 26 October, Rafiqul Hasan Tuhin, correspondent of the Dainik Janakantha in Habiganj, (north-west of Bangladesh), was seriously beaten by young activists of the BNP. He has been blamed for writing on repression against the Hindu minority. After being knocked and kicked, Hasan Tuhin was threatened with a knife. The intervention of a police officer allowed him to escape. He had to be hospitalised for some hours. Hasan Tuhin lodged a complaint and asked the police for protection.
On 22 October, Muktar Hossain Golap, correspondent of the Dainik Sangbad in Mitamoin (near Kishoreganj, north-west of Dhaka), was pursued by armed assailants who seem to enjoy protection from the ruling party's officers. The latter went to the police in order to explain that the assailants used a plastic gun to threaten the journalist. Hossain Golap lodged a complaint against his assailants. The journalist had published an article two days earlier about the existence of arms smuggling in the area, illustrated by a photo of an armed Kishoreganj delinquent. Police refused to hear the journalist's complaint.
On 21 October, Mamunur Rashid, correspondent of Dainik Janakantha in the Dhaka University, was forced to leave the university after receiving threats from JCD activists. They ransacked and occupied his room. The JCD also asked this former general secretary of the Dhaka University journalists association to write very "carefully" about them.
On 20 October, a group of armed young men claiming to be members of BNP attacked the office of local newspaper Dainik Shitalakkhya in Narayanganj (port of Dhaka). They stormed the office and journalists were threatened with reprisals if they do not pay a monthly tax to the group. On 25 October, police arrested two of them known for their criminal and political activities.
On 20 October, delinquents also claiming to be members of the ruling party raided the office of the newspaper Dainik Deshhitoishi in Jessore (south-west of the country). Equipment was destroyed and the vandals left with one newspaper vehicle.
On 20 October, supporters of JCD manhandled and threatened Mohammad Muniruzzaman Munir, correspondent of Dainik Jugantor in Nalchity (south of the country) after the publication of an article entitled "Chattra Dal strikes Nalchity college".
On 20 October, Mafia boss Abul Shah who claims to be a BNP member, addressed a threatening letter to Humayun Kabir Mithu, correspondent of Dainik Muktakantha in Daulatpur (near Kushtia, west of the country). "Your newspaper wrote so much against our leader, that is why we will kill you like a dog", said the letter.
On 20 October, K. M. Reza, correspondent of Dainik Matribhumi in Putia (near of Rajshahi, west of the country), was attacked by unknown assailants while he was waiting at a bus stop in this town close to India. His assailants criticised him for his articles about their implication in cross-border smuggling. The journalist lodged a complaint to the police. A few hours later, the assailants came to his house and threatened him with death if he does not withdraw his complaint. They forcibly took his signature.
On 16 October, Saiful Islam Rob, correspondent of Dainik Jugantor in Agoiljhara (near Barisal, south of the country), was assaulted while on his way back to cover a political violence incident. The assailant was not identified but the journalist recently wrote an article accusing delinquents close to the BNP of being involved in a racketeering system collecting tolls from bazaar traders.
On 16 October, Muzaffar Rahman, correspondent of the regional newspaper Dainik Janmabhumi in Tala near Satkhira (south-west for the country) was threatened with death by the local BNP president. While the journalist was in a meeting with the local Member of Parliament, the BNP leader threatened the journalist with an early death because of his critical articles about the party.
On 14 October, Shaukat Milton, correspondent of Dainik Janakantha in Barisal (south of the country), was threatened with death through a newspaper. Mahbubul Alam Mehdi, local Mafia boss linked with BNP, published a statement in a local newspaper accusing the journalist of being a liar. The Mafia boss accused Shaukat Milton of writing an article published on 15 October about the links between political leaders and local Mafia. Following the protests of Barisal's journalists organisations, the local newspaper expressed its regret. In recent years, Shaukat Milton has received numerous threats from former ruling party supporters.
In October, the Bangladesh authorities banned the October issue of Bangla magazine Desh, published in India, and censored two pages of Sannanda, a women's magazine also published in India. The authorities accused Desh of publishing of a story by Samaresh Majumder, an Indian writer, about insurgents in the Indian state Tripura. Some rebels supposedly take refuge in Bangladesh. Regarding Sannanda, the government censored the poems that contain descriptions of different religious sculptures that can "hurt the feelings of the readers".

17 October, 2001

Since the large electoral victory of the alliance, which was build around the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, opposition journalists have been victims of BNP and Jamaat-e Islami (islamist party, member of the new majority) supporter's violence. Otherwise, people from BNP and from the new majority uttered threats against some private media.
In this context, Bangladesh Centre for Developement, Journalism and Communication (BCDJC) and Reporters without Borders (RSF) ask the Prime Minister to take vigorous measures in order to stop these violence. Both organisations working to defend press freedom, solemnly call Begum Khaleda Zia to commit herself in a resolute fight against the impunity, which concerns journalists' murderers and attackers. "Whatever their political allegiance or their protectors are, people responsible for serious breaches of the free expression have to be identified, judged and punished", BCDJC and RSF directors declared.
"The recent violence does not bode well of your government policy towards the opposition press" added the two organisations that recently decided to work together against impunity and defend press freedom in Bangladesh. Finally, RSF and BCDJC ask the Prime minister to call to order the leaders of the alliance parties after they threatened opposition media. "Every excessive word or hate speech must be punished."
According to the information gathered by RSF and the BCDJC, at least 18 journalists were attacked or threatened since the electoral victory on 1st October 2001.
On 3 October, a group of miscreants attacked the houses of three journalists working in Bhola (south of the country). They first went to Jugantor correspondent Amitabah Apu's house. They looted, shot and threw a hand made bomb. The journalists was not at home. They also went to Prothom Alo correspondent Farid Hossain Babul's house where they also looted and fired. Finally, they assaulted the house of Habibur Rahman, editor of local newspaper Banglar Kantha. They disconnected the phone lines.
At the same moment, in Jamalpur district (north of the country), a terrorist group claiming to be BNP members ordered to Lutfur Rahman, correspondent with Muktakantha newspaper, and Shafiqul Islam, journalist with Dainik Manavzamin, to leave the area if they do not want to suffer serious reprisals. The two reporters published articles about violence during the poll campaign.
On 6 October 2001 Chakor Malitha, correspondent with the Prothom Alo, an independent daily, in Jahangirnagar university (near Dhaka) was attacked by activists of the student wing of the BNP, Jatiyatabadi Chattra Dal (JCD). A group of students pursued the journalist in the University. While he was trying to take a bus to escape to the centre of Dhaka, Chakor Malitha was beaten with metal bars and sticks. Seriously injured, he was taken to a hospital where doctors had to give him 25 stitches. According to some of the journalist's colleagues, activists thought he had to "pay" for Prothom Alo coverage of Jatiyatabadi Chattra Dal's activities. Jahidul Islam, correspondent of daily Jugantor in the same university, also received death threats from BNP supporters.
The same week, militants from the student wing of the Jamaat-e Islami threatened with death Abul Kashem Khan, president of Mirzapur press club (north of capital Dhaka). On 6 October, the journalist lodged a complaint and asked the police to insure his protection. According to the reporter, fundamentalists reproached him his critical articles.
On 6 October, JCD activists occupied the office of Kaliakoir press club. They hung a sign board: "City branch of the JCD". The press club president lodged a complaint. And the journalists protested to local BNP leader and especially because the chief of the activists group is the son of BNP vice-president. No action was taken by the BNP or the authorities. But later the activists threatened with death the three journalists who are leading the press club.
Between 5 and 7 October, three journalists were violently attacked in Satkhira (south-west of the country). On 5, Abdul Wahab, correspondent of the Bangla daily Samachar, was taken to a hospital after being assaulted by unidentified people in the street. The day after, Moslem Ahmed, correspondent of the defunct pro-Awami League newspaper Banglar Bani, was beaten near the bazar at Kolarua in Satkhira. According to the press freedom watchdog Media Watch, the police arrested him after this attack, for unknown reasons. On 7 October, Abu Ahmed, correspondent of Daily Star and local leader of a trade union linked with Awami League, was attacked by four persons with unknown motivations.
BNP student wing activists attacked Swapan Basu, reporter for the governmental news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha at the Dhaka University, on 8 October 2001. Beaten by a group of around 15 militants, the young correspondent, was later taken to hospital. He lost two teeth. Two press photographers, Zia Islam (Prothom Alo) and S.M. Gorky (Jugantor), were also attacked while they took pictures of assault on Basu.
On 10 October, Jamaat-e Islami student wing threatened during a meeting the press correspondents in the Rajshahi University. "Be prepared, your time is over. Now our time has come. You have written a lot against us. Now drop your pen or otherwise you will suffer for your deeds", said Shafiqul Islam, leader of this group. He threatened with reprisals the reporters.
At the same time, Maulana Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, Jamaat-e Islami Member of Parliament, threatened Shafiul Haque Mithu, correspondent of Dainik Janakantha, and asked him to leave Pirojpur (south of the country). The journalists wrote articles about the role of participation of the fundamentalist leader in massacres during 1971 Independence war.
On 10 October, henchmen of Bacchu Mollah, son of Ahsanul Haque Mollah, the new Post and Telecommunication Minister, ransacked the home of Jahurul Islam, correspondent with Dainik Jugantor in Daulatpur (district of Kushtia, west of the country). The journalist was not at home, but his elder brother was beaten and taken to the residence of the BNP leader's son by his assailants. They forced him to sign a letter in which he agreed that he would provide them information to capture his brother. Four days later, the minister's son threatened journalists during a press conference, telling them not to blame him for this attack. On 15 October, the Home Minister ordered police to raid Bacchu Mollah's residence, but they failed to arrest him. The same day, the Post and Telecommunication Minister complained to the Prime Minister about the raid, just when she came back from the holy city Mecca. Khaleda Zia allegedly answered that he will be dismissed if he does not control his son's behaviour.
On 14 October, unknown people attacked the Gazipur press club (north of Dhaka). They stole a television, and damaged furniture and the portrait of Shiekh Mujibur Rahman, first President of Bangladesh. The leaders of the press club filed a complaint and accused BNP supporters of being behind the attack. The local authorities only expressed their concern.
On 15 October, supporters of Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, adviser of the Prime Minister and BNP Member of Parliament for Chittagong (south east of the country), went to Prothom Alo's office in this town and issued death threats to the journalists. The previous day, the newspaper published an article about the activities of the MP's henchmen. "Who wrote this article?" asked the activists.
Since their large electoral victory on 1 October 2001, activists of BNP and Jamaat-e Islami (a fundamentalist party allied with the BNP) have killed 30 people and wounded at least 1,000 others. Most of the victims are members of the former ruling party, the Awami League, and religious and ethnic minorities. According to Daily Star, "Khaleda Zia repeated appeal to her supporters to exercise restraint and not victimise their opponents appears to have fallen on deaf ears."
At the same time, RSF and BCDJC wish to follow their efforts to obtain the arrest and punishment of former Awami League MP Joynal Hazari, culprit of several press freedom violations. The defeated AL candidate for the Feni constituency was inscribed in the international list of 37 press freedom predators. He joins mullah Omar, Jiang Zemin and Burmese dictator Than Shwe.
RSF and BCDJC have evidences regarding the direct implication of Joynal Hazari in the attack against Tipu Sultan, correspondent of news agency UNB in Feni. According to some testimonies, Hazari supporters broke Tipu hands and legs under the order of the MP. The two organisations are ready to prove Hazari's guilt during a trial.
RSF and BCDJC are also very happy to announce that Tipu Sultan who's family still suffer the threats from Hazari supporters, was nominated for the 2001 Reporters Sans Frontieres - Fondation de France Award. The extreme brutality of the aggression he suffered and his constant fight against impunity is an example for our common fight for press freedom. Six others journalists were nominated for this international Award: Sihem Bensedrine (Tunisia), Michele Montas (Haiti), Qi Yanchen (China), Reza Alijani (Iran), Geoffrey Nyarota (Zimbabwe) and Gregory Pasko (Russia). The final decision will be knownon on 28 November 2001.

For further information, please contact:

BCDJC, 53 Central Road (2nd floor), Dhanmondi, Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh
Tel : 88 02 86 20 539, Fax: 88 02 91 22 907, E-mail : bcdjc@citechco.net
Or
RSF Asia-Pacific Desk, 5, rue Geoffroy Marie - 75009 Paris France
Tel : (33) 1 44 83 84 70, Fax : (33) 1 45 23 11 51, E-mail : asia@rsf.fr