Journos give RU administration 4 PM deadline

Journalists working at Rajshahi University (RU) have given the administration until 4:00PM on Monday to arrest those allegedly involved in an attack on journalists, warning of further programmes if the deadline is not met.

Leaders of three active journalists' organisations at the university took the decision after discussions on Monday (October 5).

The journalists alleged that although those involved in the attack have been identified, the university administration filed a case against unidentified persons through the hall authorities. They said they had provided the administration with names, identities and other evidence of the attackers, but the suspects were not specifically named in the case.

Mahbub Hasan, general secretary of the Rajshahi University Journalists Association (RABISA), said they had so far refrained from any protest, hoping that the administration would take action.

“We will wait until 4:00PM. If the perpetrators are not arrested by then, we will be forced to announce our next programme,” he said.

Ibtisam Shanto, general secretary of the Rajshahi University Reporters' Unity, condemned the attack and said journalists were assaulted and threatened while performing their professional duties.

He said the use of locally made weapons, including machetes, cleavers, hockey sticks, and pipes, against journalists could not be accepted.

He also called for legal and university action against everyone involved, as well as treatment and compensation for injured journalists and students.

Jubayer Jisan, general secretary of the Rajshahi University Press Club, said journalists had repeatedly urged the administration to file a case and arrest those responsible. He said they learned that the administration was preparing to file a case against unidentified suspects and subsequently set the 4:00PM deadline.

The journalists also warned the administration against delaying action.

The incident occurred on Sunday night in front of Ziaur Rahman Hall, where a group of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leaders and activists allegedly attacked journalists under the leadership of its vice-president Ahsan Habib.

Around 10 people, including four journalists, were injured in the attack. The injured journalists are Arif Uzzaman Qurban of bdnews24, Zahidul Islam of Agamir Samay, Noor Ahsan Mridul of The Daily Star and Mainul Islam Raju of Daily Samakal.

-EM/SA