10 journos injured in police assault while covering SC bar association polls

Police have assaulted at least 10 journalists who were covering the Supreme Court Bar Association elections.

The incident took place at the Bar Association auditorium on Wednesday (15 March).

Among the injured, ATN News journalist Javed Akhtar is in critical condition and was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Others injured include Prothom Alo's senior photojournalist Shubhra Kanti Das, Jago News' senior journalist Fazlul Haque, Ajker Patrika's Noor Mohammad, Independent Television's Jannatul Ferdous, Boishakhi Television camera person Ibrahim Hossain, ATN Bangla's camera person Humayun Kabir, Manabzamin Abdullah Al Maruf.

Pro-BNP lawyers reportedly attacked and vandalised the polling booths during the Supreme Court Bar Association elections. Protesting the attacks, pro-Awami League lawyers brought out processions on the court premises.

At one stage, pro-BNP and pro-Awami League lawyers engaged in scuffles, which led to the police intervening to control the situation.

During the police action, some journalists who were taking photos and videos of the incident were assaulted by the law enforcers.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Hasan Faiz Siddiqui expressed deep concern over the incident saying, "We are shocked by the incident. Everyone should be careful while performing duties."

He assured of taking action against the accused policemen while talking to a delegation of journalists, led by the president of Law Reporters Forum, who went to the chief justice's office on Wednesday (15 March) to file a complaint.

The chief justice asked them to file a written complaint about the attack on journalists.

Law Reporters Forum President Ashutosh Sarkar, General Secretary Ahmed Sarwar Bhuya, Vice President Didarul Alam Didar, former presidents M Badiuzzaman and Wakil Ahmed Hiron were among the delegation.

However, BNP-backed candidates for two top posts-- senior lawyer AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon and Barrister Ruhul Kuddus Kajal alleged "illegal voting" in the polls on Wednesday and sought the intervention of the chief justice to announce a fresh schedule for polls.

On Wednesday, 2,217 votes were cast, said Mohammad Shameem Aziz, joint convener of the election management committee of the AL-supported panel.