‘Chatradal activists’ threatened me in Shahbag today for filming their harassment of commuters. But it didn’t end there
While covering a political demonstration near Shahbagh today (22 May), called by the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, student wing of the BNP, I witnessed a crowd around some motorcyclists.
The word "dalal" rang out through the air as I approached.
I saw several protestors, who claimed to be followers of BNP or Chatradal, forcefully removing bike keys from motorcycles and harassing the general public, causing distress among commuters.
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I began filming the incident from a reasonable distance.
However, upon noticing the camera, a group of protestors approached and began verbally harassing me.
One of them attempted to knock over a motorcycle in the process and then also coerced me to stop recording.
I even asked them why they were not letting commuters pass, which provoked them further.
The moment got heated.
Even while stopping me, one protestor kept saying that they believed in media freedom, but this was a different issue.
Moments later, a protestor rushed towards me and grabbed my press ID card.
"Which media are you from? You're trying to create fake news. Delete the video now, or there will be consequences," he told me.
The situation escalated but thankfully, fellow journalists nearby noticed what was happening and intervened, helping me leave the scene safely.
While I was leaving, one of the aggressors, said he had also made a video of me.
But it didn't end there.
Once I posted videos of what had happened on my Facebook, I faced even more threats.
More people began calling me a dalal. Despite posting video evidence, locked accounts asked for even more proof. The tagging culture that politicians always warn against was back in force by their own party members and followers.
This incident raises serious concerns about press freedom and the safety of journalists during political events. If such hostility is displayed before attaining power, one can only imagine the level of intolerance that might follow should these elements gain further political ground.
