Bangladesh Fails to Investigate Attacks on Media
Posted by jtesta on June 7th, 2006Human Rights Watch: Bangladesh: Investigate Attacks on Media
“(New York, June 7, 2006) – Authorities in Bangladesh must promptly and impartially investigate and prosecute violent attacks against journalists last week by supporters of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Human Rights Watch said today. Nine days after the attacks, the police have made no arrests and a local newspaper remains closed.
The attacks and slow government response reflect an intimidating atmosphere for journalists in Bangladesh. Restrictions on free expression and press freedom in particular could jeopardize the fairness of elections set for early 2007.
“The government must show that it will not tolerate attacks on the press from ruling party supporters or anyone else,” said Sophie Richardson, Asia deputy director at Human Rights Watch. “Failing to investigate and prosecute violent incidents could encourage similar attacks.”
On May 29, more than two dozen BNP supporters attacked a peaceful protest by journalists in the western town of Kushtia. Using stones and sticks they wounded 19 people, including the chief editor of the Bangladesh Observer and then-president of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury.”