Bangladesh Editor's Forum condemns police attack on journalists

April 17, 2006 (Press Release) -- President of Bangladesh Editor's Forum, Shahidur Rahman Tapa gave a statement condemning the barbaric attack on journalists and press photographers by Bangladesh Police at Chittagong Cricket Ground on April 16th. A special meeting of the Forum was organized at Tapa Complex, 169 Shahid Syed Nazrul Islam Sarani, Dhaka, Bangladesh, which was presided over by Mr. Shahidur Rahman Tapa. The organization expressed grave concern at the tragic incident of assault of journalists and photographers in Chittagong. Tapa said, Bangladesh is already known as the most risky place for journalists. Now, the entire world community has witnessed the evidence of state patronized repression of journalists in Chittagong. He said, the ruling government is the worst repressors of press. Only in past four and half years, more than five false sedition charges were brought against journalists in Bangladesh. He termed the situation as extremely volatile and commented that, even authoratarian regimes are more tolerant on press than the present government.
Demanding immediate punishment of the culprits members of police, Tapa said, the government should now take the matter seriously and punish the police officers and constables who dared to beat members of press in broad day light in presence of thousands of cricket spectators. It clearly shows that, police forces are rather inspired by their bosses to be repressive on the journalists.
The President of Bangladesh Editor's Forum also asked the government to immediately withdraw all false cases, which had been lodged against journalists in Bangladesh.