All journalist leaders including Chattogram Press Club, Chattogram Journalist Union held a protest rally and march against the terrorist attack on Jamuna Television reporter Al Amin Shikder and Cameraperson Asaduzzaman Limon who were attacked and insulted by a lawyer in the Chattogram court premises while collecting news.
The protest rally held at the Chattogram Press Club premises on Thursday afternoon, the journalist leaders demanded that the attackers be immediately brought under the law and their exemplary punishment.
Journalist leaders gave a 72-hour ultimatum to arrest the lawyers who tortured journalists and cancel the Bar Council certificate. Otherwise, the journalists from all over the country are warned to continue the movement through a series of programs. After the rally, a protest march circled the streets of the city.
CUJ Joint Secretary Sabur Shuvo conducted over the meeting.CUJ Senior Vice President Ratan Kanti Devashish, Vice President Anindya Tito, BFUJ Joint Secretary General Mohsin Kazi, Former Joint Secretary General Tapan Chakraborty, Chattogram TV Journalists Association President Nasir Uddin Tota, General Secretary Latifa Ansari Runa, BFUJ Executive Member Azhar Mahmud, Pranab Barua Arnab, CUJ TV Unit Head Masudul Haque, Chattogram Photo Journalists Association General Secretary Rajesh Chakraborty, Chattogram TV Camera Journalists Association Former General Secretary Farid Uddin, Bureau Chief of Jamuna TV Jamsed Chowdhury and other journalists.
BFUJ former vice president Riaz Haider Chowdhury, Mostaq Ahmed, former executive member Shamsul Huda Mintu, Chattogram Press Club Library Secretary Mintu Chowdhury, Publicity and Publication Secretary Aliur Rahman, members Debdulal Bhowmik, Shahidullah Shahriar, CUJ Publication Secretary Iftekhar Faisal, Former Publicity and Publication Secretary Ahmed Kutub, Deputy Chief of Representative Unit Sarwar Alam Sohail were present in the rally.
Leaders and workers of various political, social, cultural and professional organizations including the President of Chattogram Metropolitan Branch of Islamic Front Bangladesh HM Mujibul Haque Sukkur expressed solidarity.
Chattogram Union of Journalists, President Mohammad Ali said that journalists have worked shoulder to shoulder with lawyers in the progressive movement-struggle of Chattogram. Good relations with lawyers and journalists are required for news gathering. In this long relationship of lawyers, attacks on journalists in the identity of lawyers in the court premises are undesirable. This attack on journalists in the identity of lawyers has happened due to some anti-national interests. Two journalists were attacked while reporting on the verdict of the militant attack. The Bar Association should identify the culprits and take exemplary punishment including cancellation of their membership. If the attackers' lawyer's license is not cancelled within three days, the journalist society will start a strict movement through a series of programs.
Chattogram Press Club president Ali Abbas said in the rally that such attacks on journalists are always happening due to the culture of impunity. Law enforcement agencies must ensure that the culprits do not get any chance.
Chowdhury Farid, General Secretary of Chattogram Press Club, said that two journalists were attacked for no apparent reason. It is mysterious how this illegal attack on the court in the identity of a lawyer. A practicing lawyer cannot be represented in the Chattogram court by a disorderly lawyer. The Bar Association must identify the culprits.
Chattogram Union of Journalists, General Secretary Shamsul Islam said that two journalists were attacked in the court premises before the attack on journalist Pritam Das in the new market area of the city. It will be unfortunate if the law enforcement agencies do not take action against the culprits despite the presence of clear evidence including video footage, photographs of the attack. Journalist society will stand against these miscreants with the people of the country.
