Attacks on journalists
The Egyptian authority now backed by Saudi Arabia and Russia arrested four Al-Jajira journalists in September 2013 on charge of working in favour of the pro-democratic marchers in the streets of Cairo. They are still in custody to face prosecution. Sadly, not a single country in the world has demanded their release although the Prophet Muhammad (SM) has said: Release the (innocent) prisoners.
In Bangladesh on Saturday, some rowdy interns of Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital fell on a group of journalists who went there to perform professional duty. The attackers used iron rods and sticks to clobber the journalists and injured them seriously.
In another incident, the interns of Sir Salimullah Medical College and Hospital (popularly known as Mitford Hospital) clubbed a separate group of journalists, who entered the college campus to collect information for a report.
These three incidents, among hundreds, are the glaring example that journalism has become a risky profession through out the world. Admitting that journalists may make minor mistakes while doing professional duty, still we request the governments of the world to protect them against leviathan.
Abdul Latif Chowdhury
Dhaka
