A journalist was assaulted and at least 10 others harassed following a Jamaat-e-Islami protest in the capital’s Dhanmondi 32, coinciding with the founding anniversary of Awami League.
The incident occurred at approximately 8:45am on Tuesday at the conclusion of a protest march and rally organised by Dhaka Metropolitan South Jamaat.
The assaulted journalist, Mahfuzur Rahman Shishir, works as a multimedia reporter for Dainik Sokal. Maruf Hossain, a multimedia reporter for The News, was also injured. Social media footage of the event shows Jamaat activists behaving aggressively and charging at media workers, labelling them “Awami League agents” after taking offence at their questions.
Awami League – which faces ban on its political activities – had announced a seven-day programme for its 77th founding anniversary via its Facebook page. This comes as its leaders have remained in hiding or under arrest since the 2024 mass uprising. The ban, originally issued by ordinance during the interim government’s tenure, has since been approved by the BNP government.
Consequently, the government established a strict security net to block party activists, deploying the Army with magistracy powers in six districts, including Dhaka, alongside 18,000 police members. It was against this backdrop that Jamaat called for a protest in front of Dhanmondi 32.
Witnesses said tensions escalated after the rally ended. One video showed a group of activists repeatedly kicking Shishir after he had fallen to the ground. Before that, he was allegedly punched and physically assaulted.
Fellow journalists later rescued him and took him to a hospital. After receiving treatment, he was released and advised by doctors to take rest. Several journalists who attempted to shield him were also reportedly assaulted.
Journalists at the scene alleged that police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel were present nearby but did not intervene during the attacks.
Contacted by TIMES of Bangladesh, Dhanmondi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Islam said, “The matter of journalist harassment has come to our attention through various means. If a written complaint is filed, action will be taken following an investigation.”
Attempts to reach Motiur Rahman Akand, secretary of Jamaat’s Central Executive Council Publicity and Media Department, and Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, head of the party’s publicity department, for comment were unsuccessful. Questions sent to them later also went unanswered.
