A total 29 journalists in 12 different incidents across the country from January 1 to 31, 2009 have been victimized. The research cell of Bangladesh Centre for Development, Journalism and Communication (BCDJC) has recorded the aforesaid data from the newspaper monitoring and field level investigation. During the period 12 journalists received death threat or threat in six different incidents, six journalists came under attack in four incidents, two cases were filed against four, six were harassed in two incidents and one journalist was abducted in another incident. However, no unnatural death or murder was reported during the period.
Death threat/ Threat:
On January 1, Abu Saleh Akon, senior reporter of the Daily Naya Diganta, and former Organizing Secretary of Crime Reporters Association (CRAB) was threatened to death due to his failure to give extortion. An unknown person threatened him over the mobile phone (Warid) on 31 December 2008.
On January 1, after National Parliament Election, some Dhaka University correspondents were assaulted. Ashraful Islam Kochi, DU Correspondent, The Daily Shangbad; Riadul Karim, DU Correspondent, The Daily Janakantha; Golam Mortuza Antu, Reporter of BD news; Kamrul Hasan, Reporter of The Daily Destiny and Monjurul Islam, Reporter of Janater Chokh were harassed severely and death threat by Chhatro league activists. The activists ransacked the reporters' room, destroyed their valuable things and threatened them to death.
On January 3, Jahangir Alam Akash, the Rajshahi Correspondent of The daily Shangbad, was threatened to death over mobile phone. An unidentified person threatened him for revenge. He ranged Akash's mobile phone for twice a day. Akash lodged a general dairy no–180 on 4 January 2009 with Rajshahi Boalia Police Station in this connection. In other side, a terrorist organization Huji identified member threatened to kill the president of Lakhkhipur Press Club Hossain Ahmed Helal. A General Dairy (GD) no–165 has been filed at Lakhkhipur Sadar Thana.
On January 18, Shattajit Ghosh, Shoritpur correspondent of the Daily Prothom Alo, has received death threat from mayor of Shoritpur Pouro-Shobha Abdur Rob over mobile. Prothom Alo published the absence of Mayor Abdur Rob and freedom fighters with criticize at Muktijoddha seminar. For this reason, local Krishok League leader Rajjak called Shattajit over phone (01712732501) and also talked with him with slung words. At that time, Abdur Rob has given death threat to him. Shattajit lodged a general dairy with Shoritpur Sadar Thana in this connection.
On January 27, Mostafa Kamal Majumder, editor of the Daily New Nation, has received death threat by sms from an unidentified caller. The caller was making repeated missed calls from the same number (01918645156) since January 23 when the sms was sent. On the following day his car came under attack by some unidentified people near Purabi Cinema Hall in the city when he was returning to his residence at Journalists Residential Area in Mirpur-11 pm. GD no-2204 has lodged with Pallabi Thana in this connection.
On January 27, Shipon Ahmed, Photojournalist of the Daily Janakantho, has received threat by terrorist. Terrorist also misbehaved with Shipon. The incident was happened in the Railget area. Shipon filed case at Narayangonj Sadar Thana in this matter.
Case/ arrest:
On January 7, Chittagang Television Centre of Bangladesh Television (CTV) filed a GD against ETV due to illegal terrestrial telecasting. General Manager of CTV Anwarul Haque Al Kadri filed GD at Dabalmorine Thana at late night on 6 January. Assistant sub-constructor Delwar Hossain said to bdnews24.com that ETV telecasted the new ministry oath program illegally. Government didn’t permit the terrestrial telecast advantage to any private channel except BTV.
On January 19, The High Court (HC) issued a rule upon Nasrin Akhter, a reporter of the weekly Shirsho Kagoj, to explain why punitive measure should not be taken against her for not disclosing the sources of the report titled 'A HC judge whitens blackmoney'. Advocate Manzil Murshid recently submitted an Affidavit to the HC, opposing the HC directive, on behalf of Nasrin Akhter stating that disclosing the sources of any report by any journalist is against the principles of journalism. If the sources of the report are disclosed, the profession will be affected as sources will not provide any further information to reporters and as a result people will be deprived of the right to information, the affidavit said.
Harassment:
On January 1, Chhatro league activists were locked the rooms of three DU (Dhaka University) journalists of three daily newspapers. The victims are the Daily Shangbad University reporter Ashraful Islam Kochi's room no-68 of Haji Md. Muhsin Hall on 1 January, Naya Digonto University reporter Didarul Islam Manik's room no-32 and Shangram reporter Ariful Islam’s room no-51 of S M Hall on 29 Dacember. The Chhatro league activists were also tried to lock other journalists' room.
Attack/ Physical assault:
On January 1, Faisal Islam, a stuff reporter of the Daily Grammer Kogoj, was injured as unidentified miscreants hit him indiscriminately with sharp weapon while he was returning to his residence. Police said, miscreants attack him with sharp weapon as he reached Sujulpur, in the outskirts of the town on his way back home from office. Injured Faisal said that the miscreants snatched his cell phone during the attack and also tried to kill him by hitting indiscriminately centering over news published in his paper.
On January 3, Harun-Ur-Rashid Raju, reporter of the Grammer Kagoj published from Jessore and correspondent of the local Daily Mathabhanga, has attacked and bitten by Awami League supportive leader in Chuadanga. Eyewitnesses said, a group of 5/6 people attacked on Raju at about 12:30 pm, when he was at Darshana old Bazaar area. The Chhatra League leader Khoka was involved with this attack.
On January 5, Arifuzzaman Arif (40), a chief reporter of a local newspaper, has injured severely by terrorist attack in Narayanganj.
On January 15, At least 10 students including two journalists were injured in a clash between two factions of the Bangladesh Chhatra League at the Rajshahi University (RU) over establishing supremacy on the campus. The two injured journalists are MA Jahid, RU correspondent of the News Today and Sayem Sabu, RU correspondent of daily Jugantor. They were undergoing treatment at the Rajshahi University Medical centre.
Declaration canceled:
On January 16, Zilla magistrate has been canceled the declaration of the Daily Nabab due to illegal publication.
Others:
On January 5, Atiqullah Khan Masud, the editor of the Daily Janakantha, was granted interim bail for four months in four corruption cases in which he was jailed for varying terms. The High Court (HC) bench of Justice Md Muzammel Hossain and Justice Afzal Hossain Ahmed passed the bail orders after hearing four petitions filed by Atiqullah.
On January 7, Awami League (AL) supportive some journalists snapped the key of Press Club from peon and occupied the Club. After hearing the news, Club President Mukul Khasru and General Secretary S M Ali Ahsan Panna went to the spot and harassed by AL supporters. DC and SP have changed their mind and advised them to file case at police station due to pressure of local AL leaders.
On January 7, Speakers demanded at a meeting to the newly elected government to establish a non-communal and progressive Bangladesh. They said, qualitative changes should come in our political arena after two years rule of the non-political government. The view-exchange meeting was organized by the Citizens Rights Movement at the conference room of the National Press Club in the capital. Secretary General of the Organization, Tushar Rehman read out the written keynote paper. In the keynote he presented 18 points of demand to the elected government. He demaneed autonomy to the Bangladesh Betar and the Bangladesh Television within 2009. Terming the mass media as a 'fourth estate' of tie country Tushar said, this government would have to establish the freedom of the press. Syed Abul Maksud, Columnist said, this government has to maintain good governance for well being of the people. If the government could control the price level of essential under the buying capacity of the people, it would be able to retain public support.
On January 9, Shangram Shingha, a stuff reporter of the Daily Jugantor and Sylhet correspondent of ETV, has abducted by the terrorists. They have beaten him and took a signature on a white stamp from him. After an hour, hearing the news some local journalists rescued him. Shangram said that he was going home from Gindabazar office at 7 pm. He also said, he was abducted for publishing report in Jugantor against a relative Advocate Abdur Rokib.
On January 29, some unruly youths ransacked the office of a local daily for publishing a news items on the expulsion of Fulchhari Upazila Awami League president Akbar Hossain, also the upazila chairman. Police said being enraged at the publication of the news item against Fulchhari Upazila AL president, a group of youths attacked the office of the Janosanket.
Fewer journalists killed in 2008
The press freedom group Reporters Without Borders says the number of journalists killed worldwide dropped by nearly a quarter this year, largely because of improvements in Iraq, report agencies. In its annual report Tuesday, the Paris-based organization says 60 journalists were killed in 2008, down from 86 last years. Iraq remained the deadliest country for reporters with 15 deaths, but that was significantly fewer than the 47 killed there in 2007. Reporters without Borders say the declining numbers do not mean the global press freedom situation has improved. It says the lower figure often are the result of journalists being forced to stop their work, and “should not mask the fact that intimidation and censorship have become more widespread, including in the west.” The report highlights an increase in Internet repression, with bogglers facing imprisonment in many countries, including Burma, China, Iran and Syria. Reporters without Borders say a Chinese man in 2008 was the first person to be killed while acting as a “citizen journalist.” Along with the Middles East, the group named Asia as one of the deadliest regions for journalists, with seven reporters killed in Pakistan and six in the Philippines. Four journalists were killed in Mexico, while the death toll in Africa was said to have dropped from 12 in 2007 to three in 2008, mostly because journalists on the continent had stopped working especially in war zones such as Somalia.
Death threat/ Threat:
On January 1, Abu Saleh Akon, senior reporter of the Daily Naya Diganta, and former Organizing Secretary of Crime Reporters Association (CRAB) was threatened to death due to his failure to give extortion. An unknown person threatened him over the mobile phone (Warid) on 31 December 2008.
On January 1, after National Parliament Election, some Dhaka University correspondents were assaulted. Ashraful Islam Kochi, DU Correspondent, The Daily Shangbad; Riadul Karim, DU Correspondent, The Daily Janakantha; Golam Mortuza Antu, Reporter of BD news; Kamrul Hasan, Reporter of The Daily Destiny and Monjurul Islam, Reporter of Janater Chokh were harassed severely and death threat by Chhatro league activists. The activists ransacked the reporters' room, destroyed their valuable things and threatened them to death.
On January 3, Jahangir Alam Akash, the Rajshahi Correspondent of The daily Shangbad, was threatened to death over mobile phone. An unidentified person threatened him for revenge. He ranged Akash's mobile phone for twice a day. Akash lodged a general dairy no–180 on 4 January 2009 with Rajshahi Boalia Police Station in this connection. In other side, a terrorist organization Huji identified member threatened to kill the president of Lakhkhipur Press Club Hossain Ahmed Helal. A General Dairy (GD) no–165 has been filed at Lakhkhipur Sadar Thana.
On January 18, Shattajit Ghosh, Shoritpur correspondent of the Daily Prothom Alo, has received death threat from mayor of Shoritpur Pouro-Shobha Abdur Rob over mobile. Prothom Alo published the absence of Mayor Abdur Rob and freedom fighters with criticize at Muktijoddha seminar. For this reason, local Krishok League leader Rajjak called Shattajit over phone (01712732501) and also talked with him with slung words. At that time, Abdur Rob has given death threat to him. Shattajit lodged a general dairy with Shoritpur Sadar Thana in this connection.
On January 27, Mostafa Kamal Majumder, editor of the Daily New Nation, has received death threat by sms from an unidentified caller. The caller was making repeated missed calls from the same number (01918645156) since January 23 when the sms was sent. On the following day his car came under attack by some unidentified people near Purabi Cinema Hall in the city when he was returning to his residence at Journalists Residential Area in Mirpur-11 pm. GD no-2204 has lodged with Pallabi Thana in this connection.
On January 27, Shipon Ahmed, Photojournalist of the Daily Janakantho, has received threat by terrorist. Terrorist also misbehaved with Shipon. The incident was happened in the Railget area. Shipon filed case at Narayangonj Sadar Thana in this matter.
Case/ arrest:
On January 7, Chittagang Television Centre of Bangladesh Television (CTV) filed a GD against ETV due to illegal terrestrial telecasting. General Manager of CTV Anwarul Haque Al Kadri filed GD at Dabalmorine Thana at late night on 6 January. Assistant sub-constructor Delwar Hossain said to bdnews24.com that ETV telecasted the new ministry oath program illegally. Government didn’t permit the terrestrial telecast advantage to any private channel except BTV.
On January 19, The High Court (HC) issued a rule upon Nasrin Akhter, a reporter of the weekly Shirsho Kagoj, to explain why punitive measure should not be taken against her for not disclosing the sources of the report titled 'A HC judge whitens blackmoney'. Advocate Manzil Murshid recently submitted an Affidavit to the HC, opposing the HC directive, on behalf of Nasrin Akhter stating that disclosing the sources of any report by any journalist is against the principles of journalism. If the sources of the report are disclosed, the profession will be affected as sources will not provide any further information to reporters and as a result people will be deprived of the right to information, the affidavit said.
Harassment:
On January 1, Chhatro league activists were locked the rooms of three DU (Dhaka University) journalists of three daily newspapers. The victims are the Daily Shangbad University reporter Ashraful Islam Kochi's room no-68 of Haji Md. Muhsin Hall on 1 January, Naya Digonto University reporter Didarul Islam Manik's room no-32 and Shangram reporter Ariful Islam’s room no-51 of S M Hall on 29 Dacember. The Chhatro league activists were also tried to lock other journalists' room.
Attack/ Physical assault:
On January 1, Faisal Islam, a stuff reporter of the Daily Grammer Kogoj, was injured as unidentified miscreants hit him indiscriminately with sharp weapon while he was returning to his residence. Police said, miscreants attack him with sharp weapon as he reached Sujulpur, in the outskirts of the town on his way back home from office. Injured Faisal said that the miscreants snatched his cell phone during the attack and also tried to kill him by hitting indiscriminately centering over news published in his paper.
On January 3, Harun-Ur-Rashid Raju, reporter of the Grammer Kagoj published from Jessore and correspondent of the local Daily Mathabhanga, has attacked and bitten by Awami League supportive leader in Chuadanga. Eyewitnesses said, a group of 5/6 people attacked on Raju at about 12:30 pm, when he was at Darshana old Bazaar area. The Chhatra League leader Khoka was involved with this attack.
On January 5, Arifuzzaman Arif (40), a chief reporter of a local newspaper, has injured severely by terrorist attack in Narayanganj.
On January 15, At least 10 students including two journalists were injured in a clash between two factions of the Bangladesh Chhatra League at the Rajshahi University (RU) over establishing supremacy on the campus. The two injured journalists are MA Jahid, RU correspondent of the News Today and Sayem Sabu, RU correspondent of daily Jugantor. They were undergoing treatment at the Rajshahi University Medical centre.
Declaration canceled:
On January 16, Zilla magistrate has been canceled the declaration of the Daily Nabab due to illegal publication.
Others:
On January 5, Atiqullah Khan Masud, the editor of the Daily Janakantha, was granted interim bail for four months in four corruption cases in which he was jailed for varying terms. The High Court (HC) bench of Justice Md Muzammel Hossain and Justice Afzal Hossain Ahmed passed the bail orders after hearing four petitions filed by Atiqullah.
On January 7, Awami League (AL) supportive some journalists snapped the key of Press Club from peon and occupied the Club. After hearing the news, Club President Mukul Khasru and General Secretary S M Ali Ahsan Panna went to the spot and harassed by AL supporters. DC and SP have changed their mind and advised them to file case at police station due to pressure of local AL leaders.
On January 7, Speakers demanded at a meeting to the newly elected government to establish a non-communal and progressive Bangladesh. They said, qualitative changes should come in our political arena after two years rule of the non-political government. The view-exchange meeting was organized by the Citizens Rights Movement at the conference room of the National Press Club in the capital. Secretary General of the Organization, Tushar Rehman read out the written keynote paper. In the keynote he presented 18 points of demand to the elected government. He demaneed autonomy to the Bangladesh Betar and the Bangladesh Television within 2009. Terming the mass media as a 'fourth estate' of tie country Tushar said, this government would have to establish the freedom of the press. Syed Abul Maksud, Columnist said, this government has to maintain good governance for well being of the people. If the government could control the price level of essential under the buying capacity of the people, it would be able to retain public support.
On January 9, Shangram Shingha, a stuff reporter of the Daily Jugantor and Sylhet correspondent of ETV, has abducted by the terrorists. They have beaten him and took a signature on a white stamp from him. After an hour, hearing the news some local journalists rescued him. Shangram said that he was going home from Gindabazar office at 7 pm. He also said, he was abducted for publishing report in Jugantor against a relative Advocate Abdur Rokib.
On January 29, some unruly youths ransacked the office of a local daily for publishing a news items on the expulsion of Fulchhari Upazila Awami League president Akbar Hossain, also the upazila chairman. Police said being enraged at the publication of the news item against Fulchhari Upazila AL president, a group of youths attacked the office of the Janosanket.
Fewer journalists killed in 2008
The press freedom group Reporters Without Borders says the number of journalists killed worldwide dropped by nearly a quarter this year, largely because of improvements in Iraq, report agencies. In its annual report Tuesday, the Paris-based organization says 60 journalists were killed in 2008, down from 86 last years. Iraq remained the deadliest country for reporters with 15 deaths, but that was significantly fewer than the 47 killed there in 2007. Reporters without Borders say the declining numbers do not mean the global press freedom situation has improved. It says the lower figure often are the result of journalists being forced to stop their work, and “should not mask the fact that intimidation and censorship have become more widespread, including in the west.” The report highlights an increase in Internet repression, with bogglers facing imprisonment in many countries, including Burma, China, Iran and Syria. Reporters without Borders say a Chinese man in 2008 was the first person to be killed while acting as a “citizen journalist.” Along with the Middles East, the group named Asia as one of the deadliest regions for journalists, with seven reporters killed in Pakistan and six in the Philippines. Four journalists were killed in Mexico, while the death toll in Africa was said to have dropped from 12 in 2007 to three in 2008, mostly because journalists on the continent had stopped working especially in war zones such as Somalia.
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