| Six journalists were found to have been harassed by activists of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) in two separate incidents at Dhaka University (DU), one of which involved a mob lynching attempt.
On Wednesday evening and late night, two different incidents at two distant residential areas raised concerns about press safety on campus.
In the evening, three members of the Dhaka University Journalists` Association (DUJA) encountered harassment at Bijoy Ekattorer Hall while filming an agitated situation. JCD activist Navid Anjum Nibhan prevented Prime Bangladesh`s DU correspondent Iftekhar Sohan Sifat from recording video.
It later became evident that despite Sifat identifying himself as a journalist, Nibhan stopped him from filming, saying, “Just because you`re a journalist doesn`t mean you can record video here.”
When two other DUJA members, Daily Manabzamin correspondent Asaduzzaman Khan and Naya Diganta correspondent Harun Islam, argued, they were also harassed. Senior Chhatra Dal leaders eventually intervened to control the situation.
The incident stemmed from an argument between DU JCD activists over wall writings in front of the hall union room, followed by a spontaneous protest march where journalists were prevented from filming.
Late that night, three more journalists faced a mob lynching attempt at Dr Muhammad Shahidullah Hall whilst covering tensions between JCD and Shibir over wall writings. The incident occurred during a meeting in a hall room attended by house tutors.
Perpetrators were identified as Shahidullah Hall JCD unit joint-convenor Hadi-ul Islam (2020-21); member secretary Junaed Abrar (EEE 2022-23); Rabiul Islam Nahid (Fisheries 2020-21); Safin Al Mahmud Khan Sifat (Zoology 2022-23); and Nur Mohammad, with more students totalling 20 at least.
JCD leaders of the hall admitted that when three journalists entered, they were aggressively told to leave. When they refused to leave, the mob intimidated them.
DUJA president Manjur Islam Mahi, who was harassed, said, `Even after we identified ourselves, they said, "This is an internal matter. Why are you coming from outside?’ Then several people rushed at us and tried to beat us.”
He alleged that although house tutors were present during the incident, no effective measures were taken to ensure the journalists’ safety.
Following the first incident, JCD DU unit president Ganesh Chandra Roy Shahos, office secretary Mallik Wasi Uddin Tami, Pallab Chandra Barman, JCD-backed VP of Jagannath Hall, Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall JCD unit convenor Md Jahidul Islam and other concerned leaders visited DUJA office to resolve the matter. Although they expressed regret to the journalists, they didn’t pledge to remain vigilant against such incidents in future.
Even while apologising, Sahos said that such incidents will happen again and that each time they will be ‘resolved’ through discussions.
He did not assure that such incidents would not recur; instead, he said that even if ‘Allah sent angels, they wouldn’t be able to stop these things.’
He also told his supporting activist Nibhan, “If you get into a fight and crack head, I’ll visit the hospital. Coming to seek justice in this way is humiliating for me.”
But, in the second incident, campus journalists found that their effort to give coverage to political groups is absolutely good for nothing. It was also found that house tutors are totally ineffective at controlling students’ mob group.
The house tutors’ group, led by Zoology Department Associate Professor Dr Md Mizanur Rahman, told journalists that the matter had been dismissed after JCD activists apologised and that no further action would be taken by the hall administration.
However, six journalists faced harassment in two consecutive incidents on the same day, creating anxiety about their safety on campus.
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