Editors’ Council condemns attacks on journalists, places 5-point demands

Highlights

• Council demands impartial probes into incidents
• Journalists seek protection at public gatherings
• Political groups urged to safeguard press freedom

The Editors’ Council has condemned recent attacks, threats, harassment and obstruction of journalists while performing their professional duties and placed five demands, including swift and impartial investigations and legal action against those responsible.

In a statement issued to the media today (6 October), Editors’ Council President Nurul Kabir and General Secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud said the recent incidents were deeply concerning, particularly the attack on journalists while they were working at Rajshahi University.

At least 10 people, including four journalists, were injured in the 4 October incident, according to media reports.

The journalists were collecting information and reporting in the public interest, not acting on behalf of any particular group, the council said.

It stressed that disagreements over a news report, opinion or a journalist’s professional activities could never justify attacks, threats or obstruction.

“An attack on a journalist is not merely an attack on an individual professional; it is an attack on independent journalism, freedom of expression and the public’s right to know,” the statement said.

The Editors’ Council welcomed the filing of a case and the investigation into the Rajshahi University incident, but said the probe must be impartial, credible and evidence-based.

It called for everyone involved to be brought to justice regardless of their political or organisational affiliations.

The council demanded a swift and impartial investigation into recent attacks, threats and harassment of journalists.

It also called for those responsible to be brought to justice and face exemplary legal action regardless of their identities or political affiliations.

The organisation demanded a safe environment for journalists to perform their professional duties at political programmes, universities, courts, government offices and other public gatherings.

It called for an immediate end to obstruction, intimidation and harassment of journalists while they are carrying out their work.

The council further urged political parties and their affiliated organisations, along with all other stakeholders, to make a clear commitment to journalists’ safety and independent journalism.

The Editors’ Council said journalists’ safety was not a special privilege but an essential condition for a free, democratic and accountable society.

“Independent journalism is impossible in an environment of fear, threats and violence,” it said, urging the government, law enforcement agencies, political parties, educational institutions and other stakeholders to take swift, visible and lawful action in every case involving attacks on journalists.