BANGLADESH: Brutal attack on bdnews jurnos

Posted on | mei 30, 2012 | No Comments

Mr. Frank La Rue, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression,

Re: BANGLADESH: Brutal attack on bdnews jurnos

Dear Mr.Frank La Rue,

I am William Nicholas Gomes, Human Rights Ambassador for Salem News.com. I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the Brutal attack on bdnews jurnos. Bdnews24.com is one of the leading Bangladeshi news organizations by reach.

On May 28, 2012, some unidentified people attacked the journalists of bdnews24.com at its Amtoli office in the city’s Mohakhali, leaving several, three of them critically, injured.

According to Bdnews24.com, the incident took place on the ground floor of the Building-99 near the Government Ban Bhaban (forest building) around 9-9:15pm on Monday. Sub-editor Newaz Mohammed Rifaat and reporter Salahuddin Wahid Pritom sustained serious stab injuries in their legs.

According to Bdnews24.com Sub-editor Newaz Mohammed Rifaat, Correspondent Salahuddin Wahed Pritom and office staff Ruhul Amin received serious injuries.
They have been rushed to the United Hospital at the capital’s Gulshan. Doctors, however, said the trio is “out of danger”.
Rifaat and Pritom were stabbed indiscriminately in their legs while Ruhul Amin received knife injuries in the upper part of the body, according to report

Ruhul Amin was attacked in front of the building while keeping an eye on some office stuff kept outside to be shifted to the new office location of the first internet-based newspaper of the country and news agency, according to report

On hearing shrieks of Ruhul Amin, the journalists from the office rushed to his aid and captured the assailants and informed police.

Angered at this, some more accomplices of the assailants from nearby areas, armed with sharp-edged weapons, swooped on the journalists.

The criminals forcibly opened the shutter of the ground floor and attacked the newsmen and other staff, including Sohag Mia of bdnews24.com.

They also vandalised several vehicles and motorcycles of journalists of bdnews24.com parked outside the office.
According to United Hospital’s emergency unit Doctor Bayezid “Both Rifaat and Pritom bore stab wounds of sharp weapons on their both thighs. But they are out of danger.” Also, there were stab wounds on Ruhul Amin’s body and he also received head injuries, he added.
Both Rifaat and Pritom were conscious and talking after they were out of the operation theatre. But Amin’s situation was yet to improve because of his critical injuries.

I have revived information that the law enforcement officials, specifically the some agitated officials of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) were behind this attack.

The killing squad RAB was unhappy on Bdnews24 for the continuous reporting on extrajudicial killings and the involvement of the killings squad in Enforced disappearances.

The same force who has attacked the journalist are also looking to assassinate BD News 24 reporter Abu Sufian , who is well know for his accurate reporting on extrajudicial killings by different law enforcement agencies.

The killing squad is now using the criminals rather than attacking the journalist directly.

Main opposition BNP’s Chairperson Khaleda Zia condemned the attack on the bdnews24.com journalists in a media statement soon after the incident.

The life of media professional is in danger in Bangladesh and this attack is not an isolated issues in last few months media professional were under attack from different forces including the law enforcement agencies.

I request your urgent intervention into the case.

I trust that you will take immediate action into this matter.

AUTHOR: William Nicholas Gomes
URL: www.williamgomes.org
E-MAIL: williamgomes.org [at] gmail.com