Three sports journalists’ bodies demand BFF action by Sunday over journalist assault
Three organisations of sports journalists in the country have given the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) time until Sunday night. They are acting over the assault on a journalist in the mixed zone after the Bangladesh and Sri Lanka match. If they see no formal step by then, the Bangladesh Sports Press Association (BSPA), the Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association (BSJA) and the Bangladesh Sports Journalists Community (BSJC) will jointly announce their next programme.
The three organisations shared this stand in a joint statement published on Friday (13 November). Earlier, they gave a joint letter of protest. After that, the BFF sat in a meeting with their representatives. BFF President Mr. Tabith Awal was absent, but Vice President Mr. Fahad Karim attended the meeting.
At the start of the meeting, Mr. Amirul Islam Babu, chairman of the BFF Media Committee, expressed regret on behalf of the federation. He said so about the assault on the journalist in the mixed zone after the Bangladesh and Sri Lanka match. He also called the injured journalist, Mr. Hasan Sajib, and expressed regret over the phone. Mr. Babu said the federation is working to bring the people involved in the incident to justice.
Mr. Fahad Karim told the meeting that BFF President Mr. Tabith Awal is hurt by the incident. He said the president is staying in touch with senior police officials. The joint statement also said the DMP Commissioner has ordered a report on the incident within two days.
The journalist representatives also stressed the matter of working freely in the mixed zone and press box in the coming SAFF semifinal and final. In reply, Mr. Fahad Karim promised to widen the mixed zone as much as possible under the present situation. He also promised to ensure the safety and professional facilities of journalists.
But the journalist organisations are not satisfied with promises alone. The joint statement said they want to see a formal step over the assault by Sunday night. Otherwise, the three organisations will announce their next programme together.
At the meeting, the representatives also raised the many hurdles journalists face while covering football matches and BFF events. The BFF promised to sit again with representatives of the three organisations after the SAFF Championship to discuss this.
The joint statement was signed by Mr. Sudipta Ahmed Anando, general secretary of BSPA, Mr. S M Suman, general secretary of BSJA, and Mr. Shafiqul Islam Shamim, general secretary of BSJC.
