Staff Reporter :
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Friday demanded vigorous investigation into the killing of journalist Abdul Hakim Shimul and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
In the first major statement after the killing, the Washington-based rights body mentioned that violence broke out on Thursday between rival factions of the ruling Awami League, leaving 15 people injured. Shimul, Shahzadpur Correspondent of Daily Samakal, was shot in the head and face while covering the incident. He died the next day, (Friday).
“This shooting took place before many witnesses, and police have reportedly seized the weapon and identified its owner,” CPJ Asia programme coordinator Steven Butler said. “There can be no excuse for failing to swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice.”
Also, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum (BMSF) strongly condemned the killing of Shimul.
The IFJ, a global federation of journalists’ trade unions, demanded immediate arrest and punishment of the perpetrators.
Shimul is the first journalist to be killed in Bangladesh in 2017 and the 10th since 2011, according to IFJ’s “Killed List”.
“The IFJ strongly condemns violence which cost the life of colleague Abdul Hakim Shimul who was only doing his job,” said IFJ general secretary Anthony Bellanger.
