Several journalists were injured in an attack allegedly by the leaders and activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in the capital’s Dhanmondi area on Tuesday morning.
Among the injured, Mahfuzur Rahman, a multimedia journalist of Dainik Sokal, was reportedly seriously hurt, causing nasal bleeding and also injuries in the left hand during the attack at about 8:45am on the day.
The injured journalist was taken to Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital for treatment.
Injured Mahfuz said that the assault was prompted by a row when journalists requested Jamaat leaders to shorten their list of speakers, allowing the important ones to speak to save them time.
Jamaat leaders responded by saying that journalists could leave if they wanted, said Mahfuz, alleging that the disagreement eventually spiralled into an attack by Jamaat activists on the journalists present there.
‘“You cannot say like this as we are not your activists,” I told them when Jamaat activists began beating us tagging us as collaborators of the fascists,’ he said.
The incident happened at some point of the Jamaat Dhaka South City unit’s programme featuring a protest procession followed by a rally at Dhanmondi 32, centring the 77th founding anniversary of Awami League which is now banned from holding activities.
On the day, Jamaat activists brought out a procession from Kalabagan, marched towards Sobhanbagh mosque and ended at Dhanmondi 32 before holding a brief rally.
When contacted at about 2:00pm, Dhanmondi police officer-in-charge Saiful Islam said that he was unaware of the incident.
Several journalists, however, alleged that they were attacked in police presence.
Expressing deep sorrow over the incident, main opposition Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s central media and publicity wing secretary Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair in a statement said that the incident was ‘unexpected, unwanted and sad’.
He said that attacks on journalists while performing duties were never expected.
Ahsanul, also the party’s assistant secretary general, said that they would review internally what triggered the incident and who was responsible.
‘If anyone of the party proved involved, actions will be taken against them,’ he added.
Ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s student wing Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal in a statement condemned the attack.
The Multimedia Reporters’ Association on Tuesday warned that they would boycott covering any news related to Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, following the Dhanmondi 32 attack, New Age correspondent in Dhaka University reported.
The announcement came from association president and head of multimedia at Dainik Ittefaq Fakhrul Islam at a human chain held in front of the Bangladesh National Museum in the afternoon in protest at the attack.
Condemnations also poured in on social media over the attack on on-duty journalists at Dhanmondi.
Awami League and its associate bodies have been banned from holding activities until the trial of atrocities during the 2024 July mass uprising, while its student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League is banned.
The ban was imposed through an executive order by the Professor Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.
