Dhaka, August 18: A disturbing incident has emerged from the capital of Bangladesh, where police officers allegedly assaulted a journalist. Reports indicate that several officers took the journalist into a police van and physically attacked him. Human rights organizations have condemned this act as an assault on press freedom.
The journalist reportedly witnessed police officers beating a woman and attempted to record the incident on video. Following this, the officers forcibly took him into a police van and assaulted him. The international human rights organization Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) has strongly condemned the incident and called for a fair investigation.
According to local media reports, the incident occurred earlier this month at the Bijoy Sarani intersection in Dhaka. Bulbul Hossain, a journalist for Global Television, was covering a clash between members of the Islamic Student Camp and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) when he allegedly saw police officers assaulting a woman.
In an interview with the Dhaka Tribune, Bulbul stated that he began recording the event as part of his journalistic duties. He claims that the police officers demanded he delete the video. When he refused and identified himself as a journalist, the officers allegedly forced him into the police van and assaulted him.
Bulbul has filed a written complaint with the Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), seeking legal and departmental action against the involved officers. His complaint alleges that the officers struck him multiple times on the head, threw him to the floor of the van, and continued to beat him. He also claimed that one officer attempted to suffocate him by placing a boot on his chest.
After the assault, Bulbul was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors found injuries to his head, eyes, and chest.
JMBF stated that the assault on a journalist for recording the conduct of law enforcement officials poses a serious threat to press freedom, freedom of expression, accountability of law enforcement agencies, and the public’s right to information. The organization has also demanded an independent investigation into the alleged assault on the woman by the police.
The human rights organization emphasized, “This incident raises serious questions under the Constitution of Bangladesh and the country’s international human rights obligations. We urge our government and relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure an immediate, independent, fair, and transparent investigation into Bulbul’s complaint.”
JMBF added, “If any police officer is found responsible during the investigation, action should be taken against them according to the law. The situation where journalists face intimidation or violence while fulfilling their professional duties is a serious concern for press freedom and democratic accountability.”
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