Kushtia:Journalists at Islamic University protested on Monday by forming a human chain and wearing black eye patches in response to an alleged attack on their Rajshahi University counterparts by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activists, the student wing of the ruling BNP. The protest called for a safer environment for independent journalism.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the demonstration took place at the main gate of Islamic University and was attended by three journalists' organizations: the Islamic University Journalists' Association, Press Club, and Reporters' Unity.
The protesting journalists displayed placards with slogans such as 'Attacks on journalists are attacks on democracy,' 'Journalists will speak out against injustice, pens will move even if blood flows,' and 'Journalists are assets, have you forgotten?'
Among the participants were IU Journalists' Association President Niamatullah Munim, General Secretary Juel Rana, Press Club President Abir Hossain, General Secretary Nazmul Hussain, Reporters' Unity President Saqib Aslam, and General Secretary Rabiul Alam, alongside other campus journalists.
Previously, the journalists' organizations issued statements condemning the attack, stating that physical violence, threats, and intimidation on campus journalists pose a threat to press freedom and journalists' safety. They also called for an impartial investigation to identify those responsible for the incident at Rajshahi University and to bring them to justice.