Journalists on Tuesday announced that they will hold demonstrations across the country if the miscreants who vandalised the East West Media Group Limited (EWMGL) Complex, a concern of Bashundhara Group, are not arrested within 48 hours.
Hundreds of journalists participating in human chain programmes on the EWMGL premises in Dhaka as well as in different parts of the country vowed to stand against the conspiracy against newspapers and television channels.
Speakers at the human chain on the EWMGL Complex said journalists have been supporting all logical demands of students since the inception of their movement and the attack was carried out by a different quarter, Daily Sun reports.
Kaler Kantho Chief Editor Imdadul Haq Milan, Deputy Editor Haider Ali, Assistant Editor Ali Habib, Daily Sun Editor-in-Chief Enamul Hoque Chowdhury, Banglanews24 Editor Jewel Mazhar, News24 Executive Editor Rahul Raha, Bangladesh Pratidin Executive Editor Abu Taher and Radio Capital In-Charge Ruhul Amin Rasel spoke on the occasion. Daily Sun Editor Rezaul Karim Lotus was also present.
Miscreants carried out an attack on the EWMGL Complex in the Bashundhara Residential Area of the capital on Monday afternoon, ransacking the offices of Radio Capital and the Kaler Kantho.
They also vandalised at least 20 vehicles parked on the complex premises, leaving the journalists and employees of EWMGL media houses as well as local people panic-stricken. A female journalist was assaulted during the mayhem.
Demanding the trial of the miscreants, Kaler Kantho Chief Editor Milan said the attack on the media is despicable.
"We work to move Bangladesh forward because we will be together. After yesterday's (Monday’s) attack, various political parties expressed their sympathy for us. Leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement have come to our side. They have assured us that they will ensure the safety of our media,” he said.
Daily Sun Editor-in-Chief Enamul said journalists will prevent and deal with any terrorist activities as soon as they see vandals.
“The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has expressed solidarity with us. We respect them. A different force is at work here. They are carrying out these attacks for their own interests. So, the attack here has nothing to do with the students’ movement. This attack is an attack by some miscreants,” he said.
Kaler Kantho Deputy Editor Haider Ali also said the students were not involved in the attack. Someone tried to benefit by attacking the media.
“We will resist the conspiracy against the media, the fourth pillar of the state, through a joint movement with the students,” he said.
Ali Habib said the media speaks for the people, highlighting the success and sufferings of commoners.
“We spoke for people’s demands. Those who were involved in the incident that happened yesterday (Monday) need to be unmasked,” he said.
Jewel Mazhar said, “The power of our media is under attack, but the pen can never be blocked with a stick. The voice cannot be suppressed with weapons.”
Radio Capital Coordinator Ruhul Amin Rasel said, “The journalist community strongly condemn and protest the attack on our second home, EWMG campus.
“The miscreants carried out a brutal attack inside the Radio Capital. Our junior colleagues and female colleagues were attacked. We strongly condemn and protest this kind of hellish rampage.”
Rahul Raha said journalists stand here to protect the freedom of their profession.
“Almost 20 cars of EWMGL have been vandalised. The motorcycles of these institutions’ employees were destroyed. All the decorations we used to beautify our office were destroyed. The women workers were horrified by the attack inside Radio Capital,” he said.
The executive editor of News24 television further said all the media under EWMGL always stand by the people.
“It is not just an attack on the media; it is an attempt to attack all the people of the country. We will try to stop that attempt with journalism. The opportunists thought that our pens would be stopped, our cameras would be closed, due to intimidation,” he added.
Protest rallies held across country
Journalists working in different media outlets participated in a human chain in Chattogram, protesting the attack on EWMGL, the largest media conglomerate in the country on Tuesday.
A large number of newsmen gathered in front of the Karnaphuli Media Tower in the port city on the occasion.
Banglanews24 Deputy Editor Tapan Chakraborty, Daily Sun Bureau Chief Nur Uddin Alamgir, News24 TV Bureau Chief Sheikh Golamunnabi Zayed, Daily Bangladesh Acting Bureau Chief Muhammad Salim attended the programme presided over by Kaler Kantho Bureau Chief Mustafa Naeem.
Ajker Patrika Senior Reporter Abu Bakar Siddique, The Business Standard Senior Reporter Omar Faruk, Daily Star Bureau Chief Nazrul Islam Shimul, Deepta TV Bureau Chief Latifa Ansari Luna and daily Kalbela Bureau Chief Saidul Islam also expressed solidarity with the protesters.
Leaders of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, and student leaders in Khulna strongly condemned the attack on the media houses of East West Media Group.
Regarding the attack, Khulna University student leader Sazzadul Islam Azad said the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement is against such attacks and violence.
“We express our sorrow, and condemn the attack on the media offices,” he said.
BNP Khulna Metro Unit Convener Shafiqul Alam Mana said the BNP never supports such terrorist activities. “We strongly condemn this incident,” he said.
Journalists in Shariatpur organised a human chain in front of the deputy commissioner’s office on Tuesday, protesting the attack on the EWMGL Complex.
Nilphamari Press Club Former President Tahmin Haque Babi presided over a protest rally under the banner of media workers at the DC intersection in the town on Tuesday. Shujan District Committee President Abdul Majid also spoke on the occasion.
Bangladesh Muslim League Acting President Advocate Mohsin Rashid and General Secretary Kazi Abul Khair said in a joint statement, “No one who believes in democracy can support the attack on the media. The miscreants who attacked the East West Media offices do not believe in democracy in any way.
“We believe that the attack was carried out to hinder the new path of democracy that has been opened up through the student-people uprising. This attack is mysterious. We demand the government to immediately bring the perpetrators to justice. Media organisations can play a role in alleviating public anger by identifying and immediately dismissing controversial journalists who have supported the fallen autocratic regime.”
Besides, journalists and civil society members condemned the attack on East West Media Group by organising human chain programmes in Netrokona, Sirajganj, Faridpur, Jashore, Narsingdi, Jhenaidah, Dinajpur, Chuadanga, Chapainawabganj, Noakhali, Rupganj of Narayanganj, Jhalakathi, Munshiganj, Moulvibazar, Sherpur, Rajshahi, Natore, Madaripur and Cox’s Bazar.
Law Reporters Forum (LRF) President Ashraf-Ul-Alam and General Secretary Moneruzzaman Mission in a statement on Tuesday condemned the attack on the EWMGL Complex, which houses seven leading media companies of the country.
Bangladesh Medical Reporters Association (BMRA) and News Broadcasters Alliance Society of Bangladesh (NBA) also condemned the attack on the media.
bd-pratidin/GR
