Several journalists were beaten by leaders and activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in the capital’s Dhanmondi area on Tuesday morning.

Mahfujur Rahman, a multimedia journalist for the Dainik Sokal, was severely injured in the assault, which occurred at around 8:45am. He suffered severe nasal bleeding and an injury to his left hand, and was subsequently rushed to Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital for emergency medical treatment.

Witnesses stated that activists from Jamaat’s Dhaka South City unit attacked the media professionals following a protest procession. The march was organised to counter the ruling Awami League’s founding anniversary programmes.

Despite the violence occurring in broad daylight, Dhanmondi police station officer-in-charge Saiful Islam claimed he was unaware of the incident. However, several journalists present at the scene alleged that the assault took place directly in the presence of police officers.

When pressed for comment regarding the violence, Mujibur Rahman Khan, a working committee member of Jamaat’s Dhanmondi Thana unit, described the incident as unexpected. He suggested that outsiders who had infiltrated their programme may have been responsible for the attack.