The France-Bangladesh Journalists Association (FBJA), a Paris-based professional organisation working to promote journalists’ rights and press freedom, has strongly condemned an attack on journalists and students at Rajshahi University.
In a joint statement issued on Monday (October 5), FBJA Communication and Public Relations Cell head Niaz Mahmud and association member Momin Ansari expressed deep concern over the violence.
At least 10 people, including four campus journalists, were injured in Sunday’s (October 4) incident at the university, according to the statement.
The injured journalists were Zahidul Islam of Agamir Shomoy, Nur Ahsan Mridul of The Daily Star, Arifuzzaman Qorban of bdnews24.com and Mainul Islam Raju of Samakal.
The association said the journalists were targeted while covering events outside Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall.
The FBJA described physical assaults on journalists carrying out their professional duties as a direct attack on press freedom, journalists’ safety and the public’s right to information.
The organisation demanded immediate accountability and urged the Rajshahi University authorities and law enforcement agencies to conduct a swift, impartial and independent investigation into the incident.
It also called on the authorities to preserve CCTV footage and other video evidence to identify the perpetrators and ensure that they face appropriate legal and administrative action.
The statement further urged the leadership of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to publicly condemn violence against journalists and ensure strict accountability for anyone involved.
The FBJA stressed that political affiliation must never shield anyone from responsibility. It warned that the culture of violence and intimidation previously associated with the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) must not be allowed to recur under the banner of the JCD.
The association reiterated that no journalist should face violence, threats or retaliation for reporting matters in the public interest.
