Journalists have given a 48-hour ultimatum demanding justice for the murders of journalists, including Hasan Mehedi of Dhaka Times, who was killed while covering the quota reform movement in the capital's Jatrabari.
During a human chain held on Friday afternoon at Karwan Bazar in the capital, speakers made this demand under the banner of 'Demand for Media Workers' Safety.'
During the human chain, injured journalists shared their experiences. Photojournalist Shamim Ahmed said, "I was attacked multiple times in Mirpur 10 area. No student attacked me; rather, members of the Chhatra League and Jubo League surrounded and beat me."
Jamuna TV's senior reporter Rabbi Siddiqui said, "Where should we general journalists go? Who will ensure our safety? We lost four of our brothers. Many brothers and sisters are injured. Has the state checked on them? They didn't even feel the need to inquire. The trauma that we media workers carry, we are in constant fear every moment. When will this end?"
Criticising journalist leaders during the human chain, the speakers said, "Our journalist leaders only come to television talk shows and talk about journalists' rights to fulfil their own interests. In reality, they do nothing; rather, they sell out the field journalists. They do nothing in reality to achieve journalists' rights." —UNB