10 November 2005
BANGLADESHI JOURNALISTS APPEAL FOR INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
The Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) is appealing to press freedom groups around the world to send messages of solidarity to their colleagues at a national convention that will be held in Dhaka on 11 November 2005 to discuss the challenges facing journalists in the country.
Leaders from Bangladesh's major political parties and journalists from across the country are expected to attend the conference, which will be inaugurated by the families of reporters who have been murdered in recent years.
BFUJ is an umbrella organisation of eight journalists' unions and has 1,800 members. Its secretary general, Bulbul Monjurul Ahsan, is also head of Media Watch, an IFEX member.
According to Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Bangladesh is one of the most dangerous countries in Asia for journalists. In 2004, RSF recorded four journalists killed, 96 physically assaulted and 175 threatened.
To send messages of solidarity, contact media@bdonline.com before 10 November. BFUJ will mention supporting organisations at the convention.
UPDATE:
On 10 November 2005, BFUJ accused the government of orchestrating the cancellation of the venue reservation for the national convention of journalists in the name of "security reasons." (see: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/70383/)
For more information on press freedom in Bangladesh, see:
- CPJ: http://www.cpj.org/attacks04/asia04/bangla.html
- RSF: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=13423&Valider=OK
RSS