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.