The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Bangladeshi authorities to conduct a prompt and transparent investigation into the attack on four journalists at Rajshahi University on 4 October and bring those responsible to justice.
In a statement published on CPJ Asia’s Facebook, the international press freedom watchdog said the journalists were allegedly beaten by leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party, while they were covering an incident outside a university residence hall.
The four journalists, representing The Daily Star, Samakal, bdnews24.com and Agamir Shomoy, were injured in the attack and later admitted to hospital, according to reports cited by CPJ.
CPJ also expressed concern over the filing of a police case by the university authorities on 5 October against unidentified individuals, despite reports that video footage of the incident could help identify those involved.
“Bangladeshi authorities must ensure journalists can report from university campuses safely and without fear of violence, and hold those responsible to account,” CPJ said.
At least 10 people, including the four journalists, were injured in the incident on Sunday night in front of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall on the university campus.
According to witnesses, the violence began around 8:30pm when a group of JCD activists went to the hall carrying machetes, hockey sticks, pipes and bats following a dispute on Facebook involving a student union leader.
Witnesses identified several JCD leaders among those allegedly involved in the attack. They included Rajshahi University unit Vice-Presidents Ahsan Habib and Shariful Islam, Joint General Secretary Hasibul Islam, and Assistant Office Secretary Shahriar Alam.
The injured journalists are Arifuzzaman Korban, university correspondent for bdnews24.com; Jahidul Islam of Agamir Shomoy; Noor Ahsan Mridul of The Daily Star; and Mainul Islam Raju of Samakal.
CPJ urged authorities to ensure that journalists can work on university campuses without intimidation or violence and called for accountability for those responsible for the attack.
