Attack on journos condemned

Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists sets fire to the effigy of ruling party MP Shahid, who allegedly launched attack on journalists in Kushita, in front of the National Press Club in the city yesterday protesting attack on the journalists. PHOTO: STAR

Some BNP cadres loyal to MP Shahidul equipped with arms and hockey sticks swooped on the journalists on Kustia Public Library premises at about 11:50am yesterday in presence of police leaving BFUJ President Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and other 50 newsmen seriously injured.

In a joint statement National Press Club President Reazuddin Ahmed and General Secretary Shaukat Mahmud expressed resentment for the attack on journalists at Kustia and demanded exemplary punishment of the miscreants involved in this connection.

In another statement, President and Secretary of Bangladesh Awami Jubo League said MP Shahidul and his men has turned Kustia a free-land of hooliganism, corruption and looting. They demanded immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of Shahidul and his men for the attack on journalists.

President of Bangladesh Sangbadpatra Trust Prof Deen Mohammad Bhuyan in a statement said such attack aims to destroy the newspaper industry.

Leaders of Sangbadik-Sramik-Karmachari Oikya Parishad said this is an assault on our constitutional right for freedom of expression.

Workers Party of Bangladesh President Rashed Khan Menon and General Secretary Bimol Biswas also expressed condemnation for the heinous attack on the journalists in Kustia.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President Hasanul Huq Inu and General Secretary Syed Jafar Sazzad in a statement said this is not only an attack on the newspersons and newspapers but a well planned aggression on the democratic spirit of people. They also called upon all to be united against such oppression on journalists.

Besides, Chittagong Samity-Dhaka, National Front of Teachers and Employees, a platform of eleven organisations of teachers and staffs, and Advocate M Amir Ul Islam of The Law Associates condemned the brutal attack on journalists in Kustia.