Duja protests over Chhatra Dal's 'attack on journalists'

Dhaka University Journalists' Association (Duja) held a protest programme today (April 25) demanding an environment for free journalism and condemned the attack on journalists by Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) members inside Shahbagh Police Station while they were performing professional duties.

The protest took place at around 11:30am at the foot of Aparajeyo Bangla sculpture at Dhaka University.

The protest saw participation from current Duja members, as well as former presidents, general secretaries, and other veteran journalists.

Speakers demanded immediate identification and legal action against those involved, formal filing of cases and administrative action from the University, ensuring a safe environment for independent journalism.

The figures expressing solidarity included Shahidul Islam, President of the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), Mohammad Abu Hanif, Executive Member of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), Moudud Ahmmed Sujan, Journalist at Al Jazeera, Mahbub Rony, Editor of The Daily Campus and former Duja President, Hossain Tareq, Journalist at CGTN, Masum Billah, Journalist at bdnews24 and former president of Duja, Sirajul Islam Rubel, Journalist at The Daily Star and former Duja General Secretary, and others.

DUJ president Shahidul Islam said during the human chain, When media outlets broadcast power instead of truth, society moves toward fascism. If this government follows the path of the last 17 years, where journalists were oppressed, the dream of democracy will remain just a dream. I urge the IGP to identify and dismiss the police officers who failed to ensure the safety of journalists inside the station."

He also urged the university administration to take proper action against those involved.

The Daily Campus editor, Mahbub Rony, said, "The case has not yet been recorded despite the chaos happening within the police compound. Since both the victims and the identified attackers are students of this university, the administration must ensure punishment. While JCD has formed an investigation committee, as an organisation, they cannot evade responsibility for this attack."

Sirajul Islam Rubel said, "It is ironic that the 'place of occurrence' is inside a police station. The Duja president and secretary waited four hours at the station yesterday, but the Officer-in-Charge (OC) was nowhere to be found. If we received justice for attacks in the past, why is it being delayed now, after 5 August, when media freedom should be at its peak?"

Accusing both the university administration and law enforcement of "stalling tactics" to delay justice, Duja, running General Secretary Mahdi Hasan, warned that if their demands are not met, they will launch a nationwide movement involving campus organisations across the country.

Manjur Hossain Mahi, the newly elected president of Duja, concluded by stating that obstructing professional duties and the subsequent physical assault are "highly reprehensible," and they expect effective action against the perpetrators immediately.

Earlier on Thursday, at least 10 journalists from Duja were allegedly beaten by Chhatra Dal leaders and activists inside the Shahbagh police station as they were performing their professional duties.

Then, Duja demanded justice, including the expulsion of the attackers, who are the students of DU, expulsion from the Chhatra Dal, arrest of the attackers and ensuring freedom of the press and protection of the country.