18 journalists attacked by BNP and Jamaat e Islami activists in Bangladesh

journalist lodged a complaint and asked the police to insure his protection. According to the reporter, undamentalists reproached him for his critical articles.

On 6 October, JCD activists occupied the office of Kaliakoir press club. They hung a sign board: "City branch of the JCD". The press club president lodged a complaint. The journalists protested to local BNP leader, especially because the chief of the activists group is the son of the BNP vice-president. No action was taken by the BNP or the authorities. But later the activists threatened with death the three journalists who are leading the press club.

Between the 5th and 7th of October, three journalists were violently attacked in Satkhira (south-west of the country). On the 5th , Abdul Wahab, correspondent of the Bangla daily Samachar, was taken to a hospital after being assaulted by unidentified people in the street. The day after, Moslem Ahmed, correspondent of the defunct pro-Awami League newspaper Banglar Bani, was beaten near the bazar at Kolarua in Satkhira. According to the press freedom watchdog Media Watch, the police arrested him after this attack, for unknown reasons.

On 7 October, Abu Ahmed, correspondent of Daily Star and local leader of a trade union linked with Awami League, was attacked by four persons with unknown motivations.

BNP student wing activists attacked Swapan Basu, reporter for the governmental news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha at the Dhaka University, on 8 October 2001. Beaten by a group of around 15 militants, the young correspondent, was later taken to hospital. He lost two teeth. Two press photographers, Zia Islam (Prothom Alo) and S.M. Gorky (Jugantor), were also attacked while they took pictures of assault on Basu.

On 10 October, Jamaat-e Islami student wing threatened during a meeting with press correspondents in the Rajshahi University. "Be prepared, your time is over. Now our time has come. You have written a lot against us. Now drop your pen or otherwise you will suffer for your deeds", said Shafiqul Islam, leader of this group. He threatened the reporters with reprisals .

At the same time, Maulana Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, Jamaat-e Islami Member of Parliament, threatened Shafiul Haque Mithu, correspondent of Dainik Janakantha, and asked him to leave Pirojpur (south of the country). The journalist had written articles about the participation of the fundamentalist leader in massacres during 1971 Independence war.

On 10 October, henchmen of Bacchu Mollah, son of Ahsanul Haque Mollah, the new Post and Telecommunication Minister, ransacked the home of Jahurul Islam, correspondent with Dainik Jugantor in Daulatpur (district of Kushtia, west of the country). The journalist was not at home, but his elder brother was beaten and taken to the residence of the BNP leader¿s son by his assailants. They forced him to sign a letter in which he agreed that he would provide them information to capture his brother.

Four days later, the minister’s son threatened journalists during a press conference, telling them not to blame him for this attack. On 15 October, the Home Minister ordered police to raid Bacchu Mollah’s residence, but they failed to arrest him. The same day, the Post and Telecommunication Minister complained to the Prime Minister about the raid, just when she came back from the holy city Mecca. Khaleda Zia allegedly answered that he will be dismissed if he does not control his son’s behaviour.

On 14 October, unknown people attacked the Gazipur press club (north of Dhaka). They stole a television, and damaged furniture and the portrait of Shiekh Mujibur Rahman, first President of Bangladesh.