On the evening of November 20, Hasan, a reporter for the digital news outlet Jagonews24.com, was attacked while covering a political clash allegedly involving members of the Bangladesh Awami Jubo League and the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the youth and student wing of the ruling Awami League. Hasan was beaten in front of the Northern Medical College in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area, by a group of 20 to 25 people associated with the Jubo League and BCL.
Hasan had first received reports about a clash at approximately 10.30 p.m., contacting local BCL leader Md Rakibul Islam to confirm the incident, requesting an interview and sharing his location. Within a few minutes, between 20 and 25 men arrived at his destination, trying to identify Hasan as a journalist. After the group of individuals confirmed his identity, they seized his mobile phone and beat him, despite Hasan showing his press card.
Hasan has since filed a written complaint to the Dhanmondi Model Police Station. Reportedly, Islam and a local leader of Jubo League Tamzid Rahman were among the men who attacked him. The current status of the police investigation is unclear, with advocacy organisation Bangladeshi Journalists in International Media (BJIM) reporting that police had shown some reluctance to investigate the perpetrators.
In the past few months, the IFJ has documented several similar incidents of harassment and violence against journalists by members of student organisations, including the BCL, in Bangladesh. On November 9, student journalists Abu Sayed Rony and Adbul Alim were beaten by BCL activists after recording an ad-hoc demonstration. In September, student journalist Mosharrof Shah was attacked at the University of Chittagong after publishing reports on factional clashes within the BCL’s university chapters.
The IFJ said:“The IFJ condemns the violent assault of Md Nahid Hasan, and calls for a swift and thorough investigation into the incident. The rise in attacks on journalists and media workers by the BCL and other political groups is deeply alarming, and authorities must take action to ensure that those responsible are held to account and that media professionals are free to fulfil their duties without fear of reprisal.”