Rajshahi:Dhaka University Journalists' Association (DUJA) has condemned the recent attack on journalists at Rajshahi University by members of Chhatra Dal, calling for exemplary punishment for those involved and a safe working environment for journalists on campuses.
According to United News of Bangladesh, DUJA's president Manjur Hossain Mahi and secretary Liton Islam issued a joint statement expressing their condemnation of the incident. The attack occurred on Sunday night, involving leaders and activists of Chhatra Dal who used locally made weapons against journalists performing their duties in front of the Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall at Rajshahi University.
The statement detailed that the attackers, including university unit Vice-President M Ahsan Habib, Joint General Secretary Hasibul Islam, Vice-President Shariful Islam, Assistant Office Secretary Shahriar Alam, and activist Bishal Chakraborty, brutally assaulted the journalists with machetes, cleavers, hockey sticks, iron rods, and baseball bats. They also attempted to seize the journalists' mobile phones. At least ten individuals were injured during the attack, among them Arif-uz-Zaman Korban of bdnews24.com, Jahidul Islam of Daily Agamir Somoy, Noor Ahsan Mridul of The Daily Star, and Mainul Islam Raju of Daily Samakal.
DUJA emphasized the need for a speedy trial, warning that without justice and accountability, confidence in state institutions would be undermined. They referenced a previous incident on April 23, where DUJA members were attacked by Chhatra Dal at Shahbagh Police Station. Despite an inquiry committee being formed by Dhaka University, no report or visible action has been taken over five months later, with Shahbagh police failing to register a case.
This pattern of impunity and delay in justice, DUJA argued, increases the risk of similar attacks in the future. They asserted that the government, law enforcement, and university administration share responsibility for the current state of impunity. The leaders called for immediate legal action and severe penalties for the attackers to ensure journalists can work freely and safely on all campuses, aligning with public expectations for a democratic Bangladesh.