Attack on journalists

We strongly condemn the attack on on-duty journalists in the heart of the capital's Chakbazar area this Saturday. The reporter of an independent television channel and a cameraperson, who were filming two allegedly illegal polythene factories, were beaten by a gang of miscreants and had kerosene poured on them. The intention was to set the journalists on fire. It is the duo's sheer luck that they managed to escape before their assailants could immolate them with a box of matches.

Bangladesh is no stranger to such dastardly attacks on journalists and freedom of speech. Indeed it is not the first time that a reporter has been attacked in the line of duty. This is especially so for those who report crime as they are vulnerable to assaults by those they write against. Tragically, a culture of impunity cloaks all the incidents of murder and abuse of journalists. However much we protest, almost all cases of journalist killings in Bangladesh in the last decade have been left unresolved. Either the investigation process does not see the light of day, or no one is arrested, far less handed down charge sheets or convicted.

This makes a mockery of the kind of society we aspire to be. We believe the Chakbazar assault was meant to prevent the public from knowing the hard truth; it needs to be investigated and the perpetrators of this heinous act must face trial. We urge the government to identify the attackers and bring them to book, which is a must to arrest the disturbing practice of intimidation of the media prevalent in the country. Unfettered journalism and rule of law go hand in hand.