Editors’ Council Raises Alarm Over Attacks on Journalists, Issues Five Demands

The Editors’ Council has expressed deep concern and strong condemnation over attacks on journalists at Rajshahi University. It also condemned recent attacks, threats, harassment and obstruction of journalists in different parts of the country while they were doing their professional duties. This organisation of newspaper editors has placed five demands, including exemplary legal action by bringing those involved in the attacks on journalists under the law.

Yesterday, Tuesday, Mr. Nurul Kabir, president of the Editors’ Council, and Mr. Dewan Hanif Mahmud, general secretary, sent a statement to the media. In it they gave the condemnation and made these demands. The statement said the latest attack on journalists at Rajshahi University while they were doing their professional duties is very worrying. Media reports say at least 10 people, including four journalists, were injured in that incident on 4 October. The journalists were not working for any side. They were doing their duty of collecting information and presenting news in the public interest.

The Editors’ Council believes that even if there is disagreement with a news report, an opinion or the professional work of a journalist, attacks, threats or obstruction of professional work are never acceptable. An attack on a journalist is not only an attack on one professional. It is a blow to independent journalism, freedom of expression and the right of the public to know. The statement said the Editors’ Council welcomes the steps to file a case and investigate the Rajshahi University incident.

But the investigation must be fair, credible and based on evidence. Those involved in the attack must be brought under the law without considering their political or organisational identity. The Editors’ Council believes the safety of journalists is not a special privilege. It is an essential condition of a free, democratic and accountable society. Independent journalism is not possible in an atmosphere of fear, threats and violence.

So the Editors’ Council has called on the government, law enforcement agencies, political parties, educational institutions and all other concerned sides to take quick, visible and lawful action in every case of attack on journalists. It has also asked them to take effective steps to prevent such incidents in future.

Five demands

The Editors’ Council has placed five demands. They are as follows.

First, all recent attacks, threats and harassment of journalists must be investigated quickly and fairly.

Second, those involved in the attacks must be brought under the law, and exemplary legal action must be ensured, whatever their identity and political links.

Third, a safe environment for journalists to do their duty must be ensured at political programmes, universities, courts, administrative offices and other public gathering places.

Fourth, obstruction, intimidation and harassment of journalists in doing their professional duties must stop immediately.

Fifth, all sides, including political parties and their associate organisations, must state a clear commitment to the safety of journalists and to independent journalism.