It is always unsafe for journalists to perform their duties in Bangladesh. They are under attack from both sides. Experts say that the security of journalists is the responsibility of the state. The government has to fulfill this responsibility. For this, they are emphasizing on ensuring the safety of journalists by providing proper training to various organizations of the state.
The security risk of journalists in Bangladesh has always been discussed, but it has never been addressed. No action was taken by the government or the authorities. On the contrary, killing, harassment and harassment of journalists have increased day by day from various quarters. Even these incidents have not been prosecuted, and the case has been pending for years in the name of investigation.
The date of submitting the investigation report to the court has been postponed hundreds of times in the era of the murder of journalist couple Sagar-Rooney (February 11, 2012) in Dhaka. After 16 years, the verdict in the Khulna Humayun Kabir Balu murder case (June 27, 2004) is pending in the High Court. And even in 24 years, the accused could not be brought to trial in Jessore’s Shamsur Rahman Manik murder case (July 16, 2000).
Journalists are not safe anywhere. Not at home, not in the office, not on the road, not in the field. The murders of Sagar-Rooney, Shamsur Rahman Manik and Humayun Kabir Balu were examples in front of our eyes for a long time. They were often assassinated by terrorists. Now added to this is the incident of being shot dead by the police in the line of duty. Dhaka Times senior reporter Hasan Mehdi was shot dead by the police in Kajla area of Jatrabari flyover while gathering news on July 18.
Journalists say that this is the first time that the police have been killed while collecting news of the movement. Hasan Mehdi, who was killed in the line of duty, is the first martyred journalist in the country. As the editor-in-chief of Dhaka Journal said in an interview, ‘Hasan Mehdi’s death is a brave death. It is not known whether there are any more cases of death by police firing while performing duty in the frontline.’
Then four more journalists were killed in that movement from July 18 to August 4. Some of them were shot, some were beaten by some party and died. According to the reports of various newspapers, more than 250 journalists and journalists were injured in shootings and beatings while performing their duties in that movement. Among them, at least 70 people were seriously injured. At least 40 journalists were injured in the shooting.
In other words, there is no security for journalists. Both protestors and police consider journalists as enemies or allies depending on their needs and interests.
Dhaka Journal Editor-in-Chief Syed Ishtiaq Reza told Dhaka Times in a response, ‘Journalists are being attacked from both sides. Vandalizing their cars, cameras, mobile phones; The victim is being shot and killed. I even saw a female journalist being sexually harassed.’
Journalist Pradeep Kumar Bhowmik was killed last August 4 in Sirajganj during the anti-discrimination student movement. At least 23 journalists were injured in different parts of the country including the capital Dhaka during the non-cooperation program that day.
Earlier on July 19, freelance photojournalist Tauhid Zaman Priya was shot in the head and died while photographing the movement at Science Laboratory intersection in the capital.
On the same day, ATM Turab, a journalist of Naya Digant newspaper, was shot dead while on duty in Sylhet. He died in the hospital the next day.
Dhaka Times journalist Mehedi Hasan was shot and killed on July 18, while collecting news, Daily Bhorer Awaz newspaper’s Gacha Thana representative of Gazipur Md. Shakeel Hossain.
Among the injured journalists are journalists from all media – newspapers, television and online news portals. There are 9 journalists of our time, six journalists of Kal Kantha and six journalists of the newspaper. Several journalists of almost all other newspapers were shot and injured in various ways while working in the student movement.
Bengali Tribune journalists were the most injured among the online media – five people. Three journalists from Bangla News24.com and several other news portals were injured in the firing and assault.
TV journalists are the most attacked. 12 journalists of News24 television were injured. Six of them were shot. 10 people from Independent Television, at least 8 journalists and journalists from NTV were injured. 7 people were injured, including six people from 71 TV. Besides, almost all TV journalists are on the injured list. Even three Bangladeshi representatives working in foreign media, including the German-based media Deutsche Welle, were injured. Two of them were shot.
Journalists are regularly attacked even if they are not a party to the confrontation like the protesters or the police. The Law and Arbitration Center (ASC) is working on the safety of journalists and the freedom of the press. Farrukh Faisal, executive director of the organization, said, ‘When a journalist’s safety is disturbed at the scene, one cannot help but be alarmed. This cannot be allowed to continue.’
The executive director of ASK said, ‘We could not ensure the safety of the journalist. Now whether it is through training, through security measures, the safety of journalists must be ensured. If the safety of the journalist is not ensured, the society cannot survive, there is no chance to say that the country is in a good condition.’
Dhaka Journal Editor-in-Chief Syed Ishtiaq Reza mentioned that besides the government, media authorities are also responsible for the safety of journalists. Said, ‘Hasan Mehdi has left many lessons for us with his life. I hope other journalists will try to learn from this. He commented that it has become a big issue why journalists are targeted.
Bangladesh is not safe for journalists. Bangladesh is unable to provide the safe environment required for independent journalism. That’s what media personality Dr. thinks. Abdun Noor Tushar.
Giving the example of Hasan Mehdi’s murder, Abdun Noor Tushar said, ‘Where Mehdi was killed, there was a police guard. He was serving in a fairly safe place. But law and order forces could not provide him security. Security of journalists is also the responsibility of law and order forces. They should go into action for sure.’
Noor commented that the death of a journalist in the course of duty indicates many indicators including the freedom of speech, safety of people’s lives and property.
But the safety of journalists is always being neglected in Bangladesh. It is like in various government legislations, as well as in various professional arenas. Human rights activist Noor Khan Liton said, “Although the government has repeatedly promised about the safety of journalists, it is not being respected.” Security is not guaranteed. While reporting or gathering news, journalists are subjected to torture from various quarters, murder and assassination.
Noor Khan said, ‘There are limitations in various fields in the country. But when the government wants to deter the angry public, the worst example of law enforcement behavior is the attack on a duty-bound journalist.’
In this case, this human rights activist believes that the training of law and order forces is necessary. He also said, ‘When the police go on an operation, they need to be briefed on how to deal with journalists and their safety.’
Noor Khan also said, ‘It is the responsibility of the state to provide security to journalists. The government has to fulfill this responsibility. As it is by providing security to them at the scene, the state has to take responsibility by standing by the victim of the attack and his family.’
(Dhakatimes/22 September/MOA/SIS)
Source: www.dhakatimes24.com
