Press Freedom Violations in Bangladesh

Press Freedom Violations in Bangladesh

BANGLADESH

A journalist arrested for possessing "banned" publications

In a letter addressed to the caretaker government chief, Latifur Rahman, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called for the release of Mahmud Musa, journalist and writer, detained for possessing "banned" publications. RSF is pleased with the caretaker government¿s decision to oppose the local authorities on the subversive nature of the publications found by the police in the journalist¿s home, but regrets that Mahmud Musa¿s release has not been demanded. "The law must be applied in the same way throughout the country. We ask for your intervention with the local authorities to obtain the journalist¿s release", said Robert Ménard, RSF General Secretary.

According to the information collected by RSF, on 6 August 2001 the police arrested freelance journalist and writer Mahmud Musa in Raninagar (North-West) following a complaint lodged for "possession of banned publications". The policemen ransacked the journalist¿s house and confiscated several books by famous Bangladeshi writers, copies of the independent weekly Jai Jai Din, information letters on human rights and magazines. According to the police, these are "banned" publications linked with underground radical left-wing movements. This decision of the police officer Aminul Islam was criticised, however, and the caretaker government confirmed in a press release that the publications were on sale freely in the country. The Naogaon District magistrate nevertheless refused to let Mahmud Musa out on bail.

BANGLADESH

A journalist violently attacked by Islamist activists

In a letter addressed to the head of the caretaker government, Latifur Rahman, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) asked the authorities to arrest and punish the Islamists militants who tried to kill journalist Abdul Kalam Mahmud Azad working in Bagha (north-west of the country). "It is not the first time that fundamentalists attack journalists in this part of the country. The government must take urgent actions to stop the violence", said Robert Ménard, general secretary of RSF.

According to information obtained by RSF, Abdul Kalam Mahmud Azad, correspondent of the newspaper Prothom Alo in Bagha (near Rajshahi, north-west of the country), was a victim of attempted murder on 4 August 2001 by armed members of the Islami Chattra Shibir, the student branch of the Jamaat-e-Islami party. While he was riding his bicycle in the centre of the town, on his way home, a dozen young activists attacked him with knives and iron rods. The assailants abandoned the journalist, presuming he was dead. Abdul Kalam Mahmud Azad was taken to the local hospital and later to Rajshahi hospital. He is still treated there for cuts and contusions but his life is not in danger. The day before, the Prothom Alo published on its back page an article by the journalist about vandalism acts committed by fundamentalist activists against a Hindu village. The villagers had to leave their homes fearing new attacks. This article implicated two local Islamist leaders, Jinnat and Quader.

In July 2000, two other journalists Mahbub Alam, correspondent of Dainik Dinkal, and Jahangir Alam Aakash, correspondent of Dainik Sangbad in Rajshahi, received death threats after reporting violence by Islami Chattra Shibir members.