The Editors’ Council has expressed its grave concern and condemned the indiscriminate attack on journalists covering the students movement.
In a statement issued on Monday the Editors’ Council said, “Nearly two dozen photojournalists and reporters of newspapers and TV channels were physically assaulted including one from AP and a freelance photographer who were mercilessly beaten up, by stick wielding activists in the presence of police who did nothing to protect journalists who were carrying out their professional work. These violent opponents of the movement for “Safe Roads” broke cameras and video equipment and took away mobile phones of several working journalists.”
It statement said the Editors’ Council condemned these attacks on journalists and the role played by the police “who allowed the attacks to continue without making any attempt to stop it.”
“We would like to reiterate that freedom of expression and that of the media are guaranteed by the constitution of Bangladesh and not allowing the media to function freely ultimately destroys democracy which is one of the hard earned gains of our Liberation War,” read the statement.
