CUJ, CPC condemn attempt to attack Chattogram Pratidin's office

A large group of people, arriving in at least four buses, attempted to launch an attack on Chattogram-based media outlet Dainik Chattogram Pratidin's office in the Jamal Khan area of the port city on Tuesday afternoon following a human chain protest.

However, police intervened and prevented them, later deploying additional forces to bring the situation under control.

The protest, which began at about 2:30pm, continued till 5:00pm. Chattogram Pratidin authorities claimed that the gathering was a planned mob aiming to attack the media outlet.

The Chattogram Union of Journalists (CUJ) and Chattogram Press Club (CPC) strongly condemned the attempted attack on the media outlet.

Planned mobilisation and escalation

According to witnesses, at about 2:00pm, men and women arrived in buses and gathered in front of the Chattogram Pratidin office. Shortly after, another group arrived in a separate bus, and by 2:30pm, over a hundred people started chanting slogans against the media outlet.

The crowd grew larger when a BRTC double-decker bus brought another hundred people to join the protest.

The demonstrators carried placards criticising the newspaper and blocked traffic, prompting police to push them to one side of the road to keep the situation under control.

Police intervention and office lockdown

As tensions rose, extra police personnel were deployed in front of the Chattogram Pratidin office. At one point, some protesters tried to enter the building, but police blocked them at the stairs. Meanwhile, journalists and staff inside the office were effectively locked in, fearing further escalation.

Later, Kotwali police officers Mohammad Naoshed Qureshi and Shawkat Ali facilitated a discussion between Chattogram Pratidin Editor Hossain Tawfiq Iftekhar and representatives of the Pacific Group workers.

After assurances from the editor regarding the publication of an appropriate rebuttal, police urged the protesters to disperse. Eventually, the demonstrators left in their waiting buses and headed to an undisclosed location.

Protesters' demands and response from Chattogram Pratidin

During the human chain, the protesters claimed their employer was falsely accused in a recent Chattogram Pratidin report. They insisted that Pacific Group had no history of unpaid wages or worker exploitation in its 30-year history and argued that their company provides more benefits than government regulations require.

Naim Hossain, deputy manager from Pacific Casuals Ltd's quality department, said, "We came from Chattogram CEPZ because our emotions and sentiments have been hurt. Pacific Group has maintained a strong reputation for 30 years, but yesterday's [Tuesday] news report has damaged our company's image. We strongly protest this article and expect Chattogram Pratidin to publish a more positive report in response."

In response, Editor Hossain Tawfiq Iftekhar condemned the attempt to pressure the newspaper, stating, "If there is any objection to a published report, there are peaceful ways to address it. However, we believe this mob gathering was orchestrated to create pressure and possibly carry out an attack on our office. We have never bowed to undue pressure in the past, and we never will in the future."

Abdul Karim, officer-in-charge of the Kotwali police station, said that after getting information about a mob gathering in front of the Chattogram Pratidin office, police reacted quickly and prevented the protesters from entering the office.

"The dispute was resolved peacefully by deploying additional forces. If the media outlet authority files a complaint, we will take legal action," he added.

CUJ and CPC condemn

The CUJ and CPC strongly condemned the attempted attack on the Chattogram Pratidin office.

In a statement issued yesterday, CUJ President Riaz Haider Chowdhury and General Secretary Sabur Shuvo demanded that those responsible for organising the protest and attempted attack be identified and held accountable.

Their statement read, "The attempt to attack Chattogram Pratidin's office is not only disgraceful but also an attack on independent journalism. Such incidents undermine the dignity of the press. We urge law enforcement to take action against those who tried to create unrest by mobilising a crowd and threatening journalists."

In a separate statement, CPC President Salahuddin Mohammad Reza and General Secretary Debdulal Bhowmik said, "The siege of a newspaper office, creating chaos, and attempting an attack is completely unacceptable. Such actions create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, posing a serious threat to press freedom."