2 October 2001

EIGHT JOURNALISTS ATTACKED IN RUN-UP TO ELECTION


Amidst election campaign violence that has claimed the lives of up to 140 people in Bangladesh, eight journalists were attacked by terrorists on 26 September 2001 in the northern town of Pabna, according to a report by Media Watch.

The journalists - "Jugantor" correspondents ABM Fazlur Rahman and Sharif Mahmud, "Ittefaq" correspondent Anwarul Haq, "Prothom" Alo reporter Abdul matin Khan, "Inquilab" reporter Murshed Subhani, "Bangla Bazaar" correspondent Zahurul Islam, "Dinkal" correspondent Utpal Mirza and "Manab zamin" correspondent Shafiqul Islam - were traveling on a bus to the area to report on election-related clashes when they were stopped.

They were pulled from the bus, manhandled and had cameras, papers and cash taken, reports Media Watch. An attempt to kidnap the journalists failed when the journalists took shelter at a nearby police station.

The attack took place a week before the 1 October elections, which have been marred by violent clashes between supporters of the incumbent Awami League party and the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, according to a BBC news report. The violence has become so serious that the government has ordered the deployment of some 100,000 troops to prevent further bloodshed.

Meanwhile, concerns over threats to press freedom emerged last week after Ekushey Television (ETV), the only private broadcaster in Bangladesh, was ordered by a high court judge to cease operations during the final week of the elections, reports the BBC. Though the ruling has since been overturned by the Supreme Court, political commentators expressed alarm that the BNP, whose lawyers filed for the court injunction, was attempting to influence press freedom.

If the high court ruling had been upheld, it would have meant that Bangladeshi voters would have had access to only one source of information for the election results - the state-run Bangladesh Television (BTV). The BBC notes that many Bangladeshis view BTV as biased and inaccurate.

For more information, see http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_1572000/1572369.stm




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Also from the Communiqué, 2 October 2001

INTERNATIONAL: FOR LATIN AMERICA 2 October 2001 INTERNATIONAL: FOR 2002 HELLMAN/HAMMETT GRANTS 2 October 2001 INTERNATIONAL: GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS FOR PRESS FREEDOM 2 October 2001 SIERRA LEONE: CJFE REPORTS ON MEDIA REBUILDING PROJECT; SEVEN JOURNALISTS ON HIT LIST 2 October 2001 INTERNATIONAL: US STATE DEPARTMENT TRIES TO CENSOR VOICE OF AMERICA; CJFE ALARMED AT NEW BILL 2 October 2001 INTERNATIONAL: ASSASSINATION OF JOURNALIST PROVOKES OUTRAGE 2 October 2001 FRANCE: RSF LAUNCHES INTERNATIONAL NETWORK 2 October 2001

Bangladesh

Journalist brutally attacked 22 May 2012 Journalists attacked, injured in intensifying political conflict 18 May 2012 Editor receives threat 25 April 2012 Authorities turn up the heat on journalists 21 March 2012 Live telecast of opposition rally blocked in Dhaka 16 March 2012 See all alerts: Bangladesh


Asia and Pacific

VIETNAM: Call for release of Catholic activists 23 May 2012 CAMBODIA: Boeung Kak lake residents arrested by police while on peaceful protest 23 May 2012 PAKISTAN: Cameraman, reporter shot while covering protest rally; journalist detained and beaten in Wana 23 May 2012 KIRIBATI: Government encouraged to set end-date for newspaper ban 23 May 2012 NEPAL: Attacks on the press continue during NEFIN protests 23 May 2012


 
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