‘Authorities Must Act to Safeguard Journalists’, IFJ Demands Amid Bangladesh Crisis

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 7th August. As long-running and controversial political leader Sheikh Hasina fled the country, media workers reporting on the crisis remain at the frontline of a new status quo after violent nationwide protests that claimed the lives of at least four journalists. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum (BMSF), in condemning the brutal violence against journalists and calling for the protection of the safety, security, and fundamental rights of all media workers in Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina, who served as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister for a cumulative 20 years, resigned on August 5, fleeing to India after anti-government protestors stormed her residence. Hasina’s resignation followed fresh clashes between protestors demanding her removal and ruling party supporters on August 4, resulting in nearly a hundred deaths and injuries to hundreds more—marking the single worst day of casualties during protests in Bangladesh’s recent history.

Journalist Pradip Kumar Bhawmik was among those killed when he and four others were dragged from the Royganj Press Club in Sirajganj District and beaten by unidentified assailants. The correspondent for the daily Khabarpatra is the fourth journalist confirmed dead during the protest movement. According to the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), at least 160 journalists have been injured by the end of July. Bhawmik’s attack followed a clash between protesters and ruling Awami League activists, with three people dying at the scene. Bhawmik was seriously injured and died during treatment at the Upazila Health Complex.

In Dhaka, Business Standard reporters Miraz Hossain and Jahidul Islam were attacked on August 4 by Jubo League supporters. On August 2, Mithu Das Joy, Bureau Chief of the daily Kalbela, was shot three times in Sylhet while covering protests. IFJ has recorded at least three other journalists killed since the protests began in late June, initially sparked by university students demanding reforms to the civil service hiring quota system. These include Shakil Hossain of the daily Bhorer Awaj, Mehedi Hassan, and Abu Taher Md Turab, all killed while reporting on clashes between law enforcement and protesters.

In response to the escalating unrest, authorities imposed an indefinite nationwide curfew on August 4 and shut down social media platforms and mobile internet services. The curfew was lifted on August 6 following Hasina’s resignation, with the military assuming control and announcing the formation of an interim government until elections can be held.

The BMSF stated, “We urgently call on the protesters and all concerned to ensure the safety of the journalists working in the field. We condemn the attacks on journalists in Dhaka, Kushtia, Rangpur, Patuakhali, and Chattagram. The situation is getting worse as attackers are vandalizing media transport, forcing some TV channels to withdraw their journalists from the field due to security problems.”

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger added, “As the growing tally of killings and violent assaults on media continues in Bangladesh, the authorities must act immediately to safeguard the lives and rights of all journalists and ensure impunity is not allowed to prevail. Restrictions on telecommunications access and other threats to freedom of information must cease, and the perpetrators of crimes against journalists, including the killing of Pradip Kumar Bhawmik, must be brought to justice. In the wake of the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, IFJ calls on media collectives and unions to persist in their defense of the press during the political instability ahead.”