Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) on Wednesday condemned the harassment of six journalists in two separate incidents on campus, calling it a direct attack on media freedom and demanding accountability from the university administration.
In a statement, DUCSU vice-president (VP) Shadik Kayem, general secretary (GS) SM Farhad and assistant general secretary Muhammad Mohiuddin Khan expressed deep concern and strong protest over the incidents that occurred while journalists were performing their professional duties.
“Such harassment of journalists and obstruction of news gathering is a direct attack on media freedom and the public’s right to information,” the statement said. “Obstructing journalists’ professional duties, intimidation and creating barriers to newsgathering are completely unacceptable.”
According to the statement, the first incident took place on Wednesday evening at Bijoy Ekattor Hall, where activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), who had announced a wall-painting programme, allegedly obstructed Prime Bangladesh’s DU correspondent Iftekhar Sohan Sifat from filming and harassed him.
When members of the Dhaka University Journalists’ Association (DUJA) protested, two more journalists, Daily Manabzamin’s Asaduzzaman Khan and Naya Diganta’s Harun Islam, were also harassed.
At midnight, another incident occurred at Dr Muhammad Shahidullah Hall, where three journalists, DUJA president and Kaler Kantho correspondent Manjur Hossain Mahi, treasurer and Daily Observer correspondent Niemur Rahman Emon and member Sajib Ahmed, faced threats and obstruction while gathering news.
DUCSU noted that recent instability created by a ruling party student organisation has been observed in educational institutions across the country, including Chattogram, warning that such incidents undermine a disciplined and coexistent campus environment.
“This type of incident raises fears of authoritarian political culture,” the statement said, adding that it threatens the orderly atmosphere established on campus following recent political changes.
DUCSU called on the university administration to identify and hold those responsible accountable, ensure the safety of journalists and take effective measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
NRE/AM
