Rajshahi:Bangladeshi Journalists in International Media (BJIM) has condemned a violent attack on journalists and students at Rajshahi University, allegedly carried out by leaders and activists of the university unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) on Sunday.
According to United News of Bangladesh, at least 10 people were injured in the incident, including four campus journalists: Zahidul Islam of Agamir Shomoy, Nur Ahsan Mridul of The Daily Star, Arifuzzaman Qorban of bdnews24.com, and Mainul Islam Raju of Samakal. BJIM issued a statement on Monday detailing these events.
The statement highlighted that video footage, eyewitness accounts, and reports from the journalists' organizations documented physical assaults on the journalists while they were covering events outside Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall, a residential hall on the campus.
BJIM emphasized that this incident was not merely a campus clash, as journalists were targeted while performing their duties of observing and documenting events for the public interest. "An attack on reporters for documenting violence is an attack on press freedom and the public's right to know," the statement read.
The organization expressed particular concern over reports that journalists who attempted to film the incident or protect their colleagues were themselves assaulted and threatened. It described efforts to beat reporters, seize their phones, or prevent them from recording as attempts to suppress evidence and control public information.
BJIM stated that campus journalists hold a crucial but uniquely vulnerable position in Bangladesh's media landscape, often being the first to report on violence, protests, or political activities on campus. Their vulnerability is heightened by their proximity to the events and individuals they cover.
The organization warned against the recurrence of past political violence and impunity on university campuses, referencing previous attacks on journalists and students allegedly involving Bangladesh Chhatra League activists. The BCL, affiliated with the Awami League, was banned by the interim government under the Anti-Terrorism Act in October 2024 due to alleged violence, including incidents during the July 2024 uprising.
BJIM welcomed JCD's announcement of an internal investigation but insisted this should not replace independent criminal investigations or university disciplinary actions. The organization urged the university administration and law enforcement to conduct a thorough investigation, ensure the safety of journalists and witnesses, preserve evidence, and take appropriate actions against those responsible.
BJIM also called on the JCD and BNP leadership to clearly state that violence against journalists would result in consequences, regardless of political influence. "Press freedom cannot depend on who holds power, who commands the streets, or whose actions a journalist is documenting," it concluded.