Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) has expressed deep concern and condemnation over the attack, harassment, and humiliation of several journalists while performing their professional duties in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi-32 area on Tuesday.
The rights organisation has demanded that those involved in the attack be identified and brought to justice swiftly.
According to media reports, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami organised a protest procession and rally in front of Dhanmondi-32 on Tuesday morning to mark the founding anniversary of the banned Awami League.
During a briefing at the end of the rally, a verbal altercation broke out when several Jamaat activists allegedly called Dainik Sokal reporter Mahfuzur Rahman Shishir a “henchman of the fascist Awami League.”
When journalists protested the remark, the situation escalated into a clash. Shishir was seriously injured in the attack, and several other journalists present at the scene were also humiliated.
HRSS said attacks during news collection pose a serious risk to journalists’ safety and threaten objective, free journalism. “An attack on journalists is a serious criminal act that is unacceptable in any way,” the organisation said.
The rights body said it firmly believes that human rights, good governance, and democracy cannot be established without independent and safe journalism. “The state and conscious civil society must come forward to protect human rights, freedom of expression, and press freedom,” it said.
HRSS has called on the government and concerned authorities to ensure a neutral investigation, quickly identify and bring the perpetrators to justice, and ensure necessary medical treatment and security for the injured journalists to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
The statement was issued by HRSS Executive Director Ijazul Islam.
