Journalists N Amin Russell and Monirul Islam were hospitalised at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College on March 27 following a violent assault while reporting from the Barishal Court premises. According to the journalists, the attack was allegedly led by Sohel Rari, Organising Secretary of the Barishal District Chhatra Dal, along with a group of his associates who ambushed the journalists near the main gate of the District and Sessions Judge Court, set Russell’s motorcycle on fire, and accused the journalists of affiliation with the Awami League.

Officer-in-charge of Kotwali Model Police station, Mizanur Rahman, said a case was filed against 23 individuals two days later. Among the accused, thirteen have been identified while ten remain unnamed. Sohel denied any involvement, calling the allegations “political conspiracies”.

In a separate incident on March 28, three employees of the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) were injured during two attacks led by local assailants and employees of the Karatoa Courier Service near DRU premises in Dhaka. The injured journalists were identified as Zakir Hossain Babul, Zahidul Islam and Robidul Islam. According to DRU President Abu Saleh Akon, a Karatoa Coutier Service employee was caught by Babul forging a Trade Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) ration card near the DRU, with Babul then assaulted by the employee shortly after.

After Babul sought help from Zahidul Islam and Robidul Islam at DRU premises later that afternoon, the employee rallied approximately 30 individuals before attacking the trio with rods, machetes, and hockey sticks. The DRU employees were admitted to Dhaka Medical College the same day, with Zahidul Islam and Babul in critical condition for head injuries. A case was filed with Shahbagh Police Station on March 29, with two individuals arrested.

The BMSF said: “BMSF strongly protest and condemn the attack on two journalists in Barisal and three employees of DRU, demanding the government take legal action and swiftly arrest all culprits.”

The IFJ said: “The continuing trend of violent attacks against media workers in Bangladesh is alarming, and the IFJ calls for swift action from local and national authorities to safeguard all journalists and ensure they are able to report without fear of reprisal or retaliation. It is the mandate of Bangladesh’s interim government to uphold press freedom and hold those responsible for crimes against journalists to account so impunity is not permitted to run rife.”