Journalists in Bangladesh on Tuesday gave a 72-hour ultimatum to the government to arrest those involved in attacks on some of their colleagues while covering the unprecedented protests by the students over road safety, according to media reports.
At least seven photojournalists, including an Associated Press (AP) photographer, were injured in attacks with sharp weapons, sticks and iron rods by youths wearing helmets at Dhanmondi, Jigatala and Science Laboratory areas on Sunday, while covering the protests.
A large number of journalists and photojournalists also gathered in front of the Jatiya Press Club on Tuesday morning and formed a human chain in protest against the attacks, the agencies reported.
“Journalists gave a 72-hour ultimatum to the government for arresting those who attacked some their colleagues during the ongoing student movement seeking safe roads. Otherwise, they will launch tougher programmes from August 11,” President of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Molla Jalal was quoted as saying while addressing protesting scribes at the Jatiya Press Club.
They demanded the government to identify and arrest those involved in attacks on journalists after analysing the video footages.
“I am urging the information minister and home minister to sit with the journalists and try to identify those who played a role in the attacks and ensure they are punished,” BFUJ general secretary Shaban Mahmud was quoted as saying by agencies.
A number of journalists also formed a human chain at the SAARC Fountain in Karwan Bazar area.
Meanwhile, the police have arrested 11 people for the violence during the unprecedented protests by the students over road safety.
“Police have registered 27 cases and the number of arrestees and cases would rise,” Md Muntasirul Islam, a deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police was quoted as saying by the by agencies.
Six people were detained over student-police clashes at Shahbagh on Monday.
