3 journalists harassed by pro-Jamaat lawyers while on duty at Dhaka court

Three journalists were harassed by a group of pro-Jamaat  lawyers while on professional duty at the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court premises yesterday morning (28 October).

Shortly afterwards, Metropolitan Magistrate Hasib Ullah Piyash summoned the journalists to the dock and threatened to send them to prison. They were released only after offering an unconditional apology.

According to video footage and eyewitness accounts, the three journalists — Masud Rana of Kaler Kantho, Ariful Islam of Ekushey Television, and Ariful Islam of The Business Standard — were present to cover the submission of the investigation report in the case concerning the death of Buet student Fardin Noor Parash.

The accused in the case, Amatullah Bushra, and Fardin's father, Noor Uddin Rana, were both present in court.

A group of pro-Jamaat lawyers, including Rezaul Haque Riaz and Akhtaruzzaman Dalim, objected to the filming and allegedly harassed the journalists.

When the reporters explained that they were recording as part of their professional duties, the lawyers became increasingly aggressive, insisting that they be taken before the magistrate.

The journalists clarified that no prior court permission was required to record an accused person outside the courtroom. This led to a heated exchange, during which the lawyers encircled the reporters near Magistrate Piyash's courtroom.

At one stage, lawyer Akhtaruzzaman Dalim allegedly snatched a journalist's phone and verbally threatened complainant Noor Uddin Rana, accusing him of "bringing journalists to the court."

Moments later, Magistrate Piyash called the three journalists into his courtroom, where lawyer Riaz reportedly slipped away. The magistrate asked the journalists to identify themselves and accused them of "causing a disturbance." "It's now 11:38am. You will be sent to prison. No more discussion. Confiscate their phones," the magistrate was quoted as saying.

A few minutes later, he offered to release them on the condition of an unconditional apology. The journalists complied and were subsequently released.

Masud Rana later told reporters, "We went to cover the hearing, but some lawyers created a mob and obstructed us. The judge, being overzealous, called us into the dock and threatened to jail us despite knowing we were journalists."

Ariful Islam of TBS added, "We were harassed simply for filming the accused. One of our phones was taken away, and the magistrate threatened us with imprisonment without giving any chance to defend ourselves. It was deeply humiliating."

When contacted, lawyer Akhtaruzzaman Dalim described the incident as a "misunderstanding" later resolved by the magistrate, while lawyer Riaz termed it "an unfortunate event."

Liton Mahmud, president of the Dhaka Court Reporters' Unity, strongly condemned the harassment, saying the journalists had not engaged in any unprofessional conduct. "The lawyers' unruly behaviour disrupted court decorum. Instead of addressing that, the magistrate overreacted and threatened the journalists with jail — an unacceptable act from a judge. We demand the magistrate's removal and will lodge a formal complaint with the Chief Justice," he said.