BANGLADESH: Brutal Attack on BDnews Journos

Human Rights Ambassador William Gomes contacts UN officials over media attacks in Bangladesh.

(SALEM, Ore.) - When mobs can attack journalists they disagree with and get away with it, all hope for an already hard pressed society is easily lost.

BDnews is a thriving news agency and online newspaper in Bangladesh that takes the high road in its innovative path of journalism and truth.

They have been reporting consistently on very serious problems facing the local residents here, which include enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrest, detention, and crimes of authorities far worse in nature, and for this honest reporting, they paid a brutal price.

It began when members of the BDnews news team heard one of their employees in front of the building screaming in pain, being attacked; they ran outside and subdued the assailants, calling the police.

BDnews employees injured in the brutal attack

But the violence did not end, and the criminals involved in the first attack soon saw their comrades join in the attack, actually entering the building and attacking numerous people with sharp edged objects.

Before it was over, even the cars of these hard working journos were attacked in the agency's parking lot and vandalised. As the photo attests, the crime scene was bloody and gruesome, at least three employees were critically injured.

It turns out that the attack, according to sources in the local area, was the work of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB); law enforcement officials suspected in many of the state terror crimes reported by BDnews, who used the criminals to avoid getting their own hands dirty, and to avoid connection to the crime.

This is the type of crime under the color of law that should be most frowned upon by any government with even a hint of moral decency.

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May 29, 2012 Mr. Frank La Rue Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression Palais des Nations CH-1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland Fax: +41 22 917 9006 Email: freedex@ohchr.org Re: BANGLADESH: Brutal attack on bdnews jurnos Dear Mr. Frank La Rue, I am William Nicholas Gomes, Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com. I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the Brutal attack on BDNews journalists. Bdnews24.com is one of the leading Bangladeshi news organizations by reach. On May 28, 2012, some unidentified people attacked the journalists of Bdnews24.com at its Amtoli office in the city’s Mohakhali, leaving at least three of them critically injured. According to Bdnews24.com, the incident took place on the ground floor of Building-99 near the Government Ban Bhaban (forest building) around 9:00 -9:15 p.m. on Monday. Sub-editor Newaz Mohammed Rifaat and reporter Salahuddin Wahid Pritom sustained serious stab injuries in their legs. According to Bdnews24.com Sub-editor Newaz Mohammed Rifaat, Correspondent Salahuddin Wahed Pritom, and office staff Ruhul Amin, received serious injuries. They have been rushed to the United Hospital at the capital’s Gulshan. Doctors, however, said the trio is “out of danger”. Rifaat and Pritom were stabbed indiscriminately in their legs while Ruhul Amin received knife injuries in the upper part of the body, according to report. Ruhul Amin was attacked in front of the building while keeping an eye on some office equipment outside, that was being transferred to their new office location - for the first internet-based newspaper and news agency in the country, according to reports. On hearing the shrieks of Ruhul Amin, the journalists from the office rushed to his aid, captured the assailants and informed police. Angered at this, some other accomplices of the assailants from nearby areas, armed with sharp-edged weapons, swooped on the journalists. The criminals forcibly opened the shutter of the ground floor and attacked the newsmen and other staff, including Sohag Mia of BDSews24.com. The marauding crowd also vandalised several vehicles and motorcycles of journalists of BDSews24.com parked outside the office. According to United Hospital’s emergency unit Doctor Bayezid, “Both Rifaat and Pritom bore stab wounds of sharp weapons on their both thighs. But they are out of danger.” Also, there were stab wounds on Ruhul Amin’s body and he also received head injuries, he added. Both Rifaat and Pritom were conscious and talking after they were out of the operation theatre. But Amin’s situation was yet to improve because of his critical injuries. I have received information that the law enforcement officials, specifically some agitated officials of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) were behind this attack. The killing squad RAB was unhappy with BDSews24.com for the continuous reporting of extrajudicial killings and the involvement of the killing squad in enforced disappearances. The same force who has attacked the journalist are also looking to assassinate BD News 24 reporter Abu Sufian, who is well know for his accurate reporting on extrajudicial killings by different law enforcement agencies. The killing squad is now using the criminals rather than attacking the journalists directly. Main opposition BNP’s Chairperson Khaleda Zia condemned the attack on the BDSews24.com journalists in a media statement soon after the incident. The life of media professionals is in danger in Bangladesh and this attack is not an isolated issue. Over the last few months media professional were under attack from different forces including the law enforcement agencies. I request your urgent intervention into the case. I trust that you will take immediate action into this matter. Yours sincerely, William Nicholas Gomes Human Rights Ambassador for Salem News.com Salem-News.com P.O. Box 5238 Salem, Oregon 97304 www.williamgomes.org

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