Journalists Assaulted After Dhanmondi Protest

A protest held at Dhanmondi 32 in the capital ended in violence on Tuesday morning when journalists were allegedly attacked during a post-rally briefing, leaving one reporter seriously injured.

The incident occurred after a demonstration organised by the Dhaka Metropolitan South unit of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Dhanmondi zone, directed against the activities of the now-defunct Awami League. The protest took place at approximately 8:30am, drawing participation from local party leaders and activists.

According to eyewitness accounts, tension escalated after the conclusion of the procession when journalists attempted to conduct a routine briefing. The situation reportedly deteriorated when media personnel requested a senior representative to speak on behalf of the organisers. This request led to a verbal altercation between journalists and party activists.

At one stage, some activists allegedly labelled journalists as “collaborators of the Awami League,” a remark that was strongly contested by those present from the media. The exchange quickly intensified, culminating in a physical confrontation.

Journalist Mahfuzur Rahman Shishir, a reporter for Dainik Sakaler, sustained serious injuries in the attack. Witnesses reported that he was struck during the melee and was seen bleeding from the mouth immediately afterwards. Fellow journalists at the scene swiftly intervened and evacuated him to the nearby Bangladesh Medical College Hospital for emergency treatment.

Other reporters present also faced intimidation during the incident, though no additional severe injuries were immediately confirmed.

Below is a summary of key individuals and roles associated with the incident:

Following the incident, concerns were raised among media professionals regarding safety and freedom of the press during political programmes. Several journalists at the scene described the attack as sudden and unprovoked from their perspective, arguing that they were merely performing their professional duties.

In response, Mujibur Rahman Khan, a member of the Jamaat’s Dhanmondi unit working committee, described the incident as “unfortunate” and suggested that outsiders might have infiltrated the gathering, potentially triggering the violence. He maintained that the organisation’s official programme did not include any intention to harm journalists.

Authorities have not yet issued a detailed public statement regarding the incident, and it remains unclear whether any formal investigation has been initiated.

The episode has once again highlighted growing tensions between political activities and media personnel in public spaces, particularly during high-visibility demonstrations in the capital.