At least six journalists were allegedly harassed by Chhatra Dal activists in two separate incidents at Dhaka University (DU) on Wednesday, raising serious concerns over press freedom and journalist safety on the campus.
The incidents took place at Bijoy Ekattor Hall in the evening and at Dr Muhammad Shahidullah Hall late at night, according to the Dhaka University Journalists’ Association (DUJ).
First incident at Bijoy Ekattor Hall
Three members of DUJ were harassed while trying to record video of a tense situation at Bijoy Ekattor Hall around evening. Chhatra Dal activist Navid Anjum Nivan allegedly obstructed Iftikhar Sohan Sifat, the DU correspondent of Prime Bangladesh, from recording video.
Eyewitnesses said that even after Sifat identified himself as a journalist, Nivan told him, “Just because you are a journalist does not mean you can record video here.”
When two other DUJ members – Asaduzzaman Khan, correspondent of the Daily Manab Zamin, and Harun Islam, correspondent of Naya Diganta – protested, they also faced harassment. The situation turned heated until senior Chhatra Dal leaders present intervened to bring it under control.
The incident originated from an altercation between Chhatra Dal activists over wall writing in front of the hall’s parliament room, sources said. Journalists were later obstructed from recording video during a spontaneous protest march.
Second incident at Shahidullah Hall
In a separate incident late Wednesday night, three more journalists were harassed at Dr Muhammad Shahidullah Hall while trying to cover tensions between Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir over wall writing.
Eyewitnesses said the journalists entered a room where a meeting was being held in the presence of a house tutor. They were asked to leave, at which point several Chhatra Dal activists charged towards them and issued threats.
Speaking to this correspondent, the harassed DU correspondent of the Daily Observer said, “Even after we identified ourselves, we were told ‘This is a hall matter, why are you coming from outside.’ Then several people charged towards us and attempted to beat us.”
He further alleged that although the house tutor was present at the time, no effective steps were taken to ensure the safety of the journalists.
Following the first incident, Chhatra Dal’s university branch president Ganesh Chandra Roy Shahosh and office secretary Mallik Wasi Uddin Tamim, along with other leaders, went to the DUJ office to resolve the matter.
They expressed regret to the journalists and assured that they would remain vigilant to prevent recurrence of such incidents in the future.
With allegations of harassment of six journalists in two consecutive incidents on the same day, members of the journalists’ association expressed deep concern over the safety of journalists on campus.
DUJ has demanded a proper investigation into the incidents and action against those responsible.
