Staff Reporter :
The police obstructed the media men from entering several polling stations during the Dhaka South and the North City Corporations election on Tuesday despite the fact that the Election Commission (EC) did not give any such order.
Several journalists were injured in attacks when they were doing theirprofessional duties in different centers. They blamed the ruling party men for the attacks.
The on-duty police officials said that they had directions from the police high command not to allow camera inside the polling centers.
Hours after several journalists were prevented and assaulted in different polling centres, Election Commissioner Md Shah Nawaz however said that the media men could do their election duties without any obstruction.
“I have directed the law enforcers to allow the media men to discharge their duties without any hassle,” the commissioner told reporters at EC Secretariat office around 10:30am.
The Dhaka Tribune Reporter Adil Shakhawat and photojournalist Syed Zakir Hossain said that policemen did not allow them to enter the polling centre at Mirza Abbas Women College in the morning.
“We were not allowed to enter Deep Shikha School at North Shajahanpur in the morning. On-duty police man said that journalists would not be allowed as per the presiding officer’s order,” said Adil.
Adil further added that the similar situation prevailed in all the polling centres of ward nos 185-188 in the area.
Journalists were also not allowed in the Dhaka University Laboratory School and College polling centre in the morning.
Rana Hanif, a staff reporter of thereport24.com, was barred from entering by the on-duty police men Kisholoy Girls High Scool and College center.
Rana Hanif told The New Nation that police constable Rashed intercepted them from entering the center.
He said that the DC office directed them not to allow journalist inside the center.
Sub-Inspector Nazmul, who was performing duty at Kisholoy Girls High School and College center, told the journalists that he had similar order from the returning officers of Dhaka South and North. The same incidents occurred at Mirpur University College, Mirpur Preparatory Grammar school, Azimpur Girls School and College, Suritola High School, Swamibagh Mitali School, Kamrunnesa Government High School, Motijheel Ideal School, Azimpur High School and College, Fariduddin Siddique High School, Government Madrasha-e-Alia and many other centers in the corporations areas.
Jebun Nesa Alo, a reporter of Dhaka Tribune, was assaulted by the AL men at Ideal College around 11am.
Shamim Noor, a senior photographer of the Daily Jugantor, was injured by the AL men at Segun Bagicha High School center around 8am. The AL men also confined Noor in a room. Later the photojournalists rescued him and sent him to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital for treatment.
Obayed Ongshuman, a staff reporter of the Daily Jugantor, was beaten mercilessly at Kamalapur High School and College center as he was collecting information of fake votes and taking pictures of vote rigging in the morning.
The supporters of AL backed candidates assaulted Sujoy Mahajon, a senior reporter of the daily Prothom Alo at Mahbub Ali Institute in Shahjahanpur in the noon. They also snatched Sujoy’s mobile phones, office identity card and identity card given by the EC.
Indrojit Sarker, photo journalist of the New Age, was injured when he was taking photos of vote rigging at Kabi Nazrul Government College centers around1pm.
A journalist named Yasin Rabbi received bullet injuries in his leg when he was collecting information during the clash between the two rival groups of ruling Awami League at Bashabo Girl High School in Sabujbagh.
