Editors’ Council condemns attack on journalist at Jamaat programme

The Editors’ Council has strongly condemned the assault and harassment of journalists during a political programme organised by the Dhaka Metropolitan South unit of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami at Dhanmondi-32 in the capital on 23 June.

In a statement issued today (25 June), the council said the attack took place while journalists were carrying out their professional duties and described the incident as unacceptable.

The council said such attacks are contrary to media freedom, the right to gather news and freedom of expression.

The statement came after Jamaat characterised the incident as a “misunderstanding” and explained its position regarding the events.

However, the Editors’ Council said no attack on journalists performing their professional responsibilities could be justified under any circumstances.

It called for a prompt, impartial and credible investigation to identify those responsible and ensure exemplary action against them.

The incident occurred following a protest march at Dhanmondi-32 on 23 June, where a journalist was allegedly assaulted by activists associated with Jamaat-e-Islami.

The victim, Mahfuzur Rahman Shishir, is a multimedia reporter for the daily Sokal. According to eyewitnesses, the procession was organised by Jamaat’s Dhanmondi zone under the Dhaka South unit and was attended by party leaders and activists from different levels.

Speaking to the media after the incident, Shishir said he was collecting statements from participants after the rally when he and other journalists were asked to leave.

“When I protested, saying we are not their workers, why should we leave, they called me an Awami League associate and assaulted me,” he said.

Following the incident, Jamaat-e-Islami issued a statement expressing “deep regret” over what it described as an “unfortunate, undesirable and regrettable” event involving journalists during the programme.