The president of the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU), Abu Saleh Akon, has given the government a 72-hour ultimatum to arrest all attackers and identify the instigators involved in assaults on the newspapers Prothom Alo and Daily Star.
Akon issued the ultimatum on Wednesday during a human chain protest outside the DRU office in Shegunbagicha.
The protest also condemned the lawsuits filed against DRU General Secretary Mynul Hasan Sohel and DRU Administrative Officer Mohammad Solaiman Hossain.
“All those involved in the attacks must be arrested within the next 72 hours,” Akon said. “Those who instigated the violence must be brought under the law and presented before the nation. If this does not happen, we will announce further action” he added.
He mentioned that DRU will submit a memorandum to the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the allegedly false and harassing cases against Sohel and Solaiman Hossain.
Akon also warned that certain groups are attempting to divert attention from the death of Sharif Osman Hadi and urged the government to ensure press freedom, democracy and true independence for journalists.
DRU Organizing Secretary M M Jasim said the attacks were an attempt to undermine Bangladesh’s media.
“Even expressing opinions has been met with suppression. Over the past 17 years, 65 journalists have been killed. Nothing has changed even after the revolution,” he said.
Jasim urged journalists to remain united to protect press freedom and demanded the withdrawal of the cases against Sohel and Solaiman.
Kamruzzaman Khan, former president of the Bangladesh Crime Reporters’ Association (CRAB), described the night of the attacks as “barbaric.” He added that the assailants initially arrived in small numbers but later brought reinforcements via phone calls to carry out widespread destruction. Khan demanded prompt disposal of the allegedly harassing cases.
The protest also saw participation from DRU members, former office bearers, and journalists from various media outlets, including Shafiqul Karim Shabu, Mehedi Hasan Masum, Jannatul Ferdush Panna, Mahfuz Sadi, and Ahmed Atik. The participants called on the government to bring all involved under the law swiftly and withdraw the harassing lawsuits immediately.
