Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami activists allegedly assaulted and harassed several journalists following a protest programme in Dhaka's Dhanmondi Road No. 32 on Tuesday morning, leaving at least two reporters injured.
Among the injured was Mahfuzur Rahman Shishir, a multimedia reporter of Dainik Sokal. Maruf Hossain, a multimedia reporter of The News, was also hurt. At least 10 other journalists alleged they were subjected to harassment during the incident.
Witnesses said the attack occurred around 8:45am after a protest march and rally organised by the Dhanmondi Zone unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Jamaat-e-Islami.
According to journalists present at the scene, the procession started from Kalabagan at about 8:30am, passed the Sobhanbagh Mosque area and ended at Dhanmondi Road No. 32. The programme was held in protest against the 77th founding anniversary of the Awami League, whose activities remain banned.
Shishir said several leaders were delivering speeches at the rally when journalists requested that a limited number of speakers address the gathering to facilitate news coverage.
"One of the speakers replied that everyone's speech must be heard, otherwise they would leave," he said.
A dispute reportedly broke out between some Jamaat activists and journalists during a media briefing after the rally. The immediate cause of the altercation could not be confirmed.
Witnesses said some activists accused a journalist of being an Awami League supporter. When reporters protested, an argument ensued and later turned violent.
According to journalists at the scene, activists grabbed Shishir by the collar and punched him. As he fell to the ground, he was allegedly kicked before fellow journalists intervened and took him to a nearby private hospital.
Speaking after receiving treatment, Shishir condemned the attack.
"It is shameful that Jamaat men attacked a journalist. You speak of media freedom-does grabbing a journalist by the collar and assaulting him represent freedom of the press?" he said.
Abdus Sattar Sumon, assistant secretary for publicity affairs of Jamaat-e-Islami's Dhaka South unit, described the incident as "unfortunate".
"We do not support any form of misconduct towards journalists," he said.
In a statement, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal expressed "deep concern and anger" over what it described as a "barbaric and criminal-style attack" on journalists by Jamaat leaders and activists.
The organisation demanded the immediate identification of those responsible and called for exemplary punishment of the perpetrators involved in the attack in the Dhanmondi-32 area.
