Media
Shooting the Messenger
Photo: Star File
Bangladesh is a dangerous place for journalists. A dysfunctional democracy, criminalisation of politics and social unrest all contribute to raising the bar of risk-taking. According to New York based Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 14 Bangladeshi journalists have been killed since 1992. To make matters even more grievous, every year many journalists are being harassed for their incorrigible nosiness. Bangladeshi politicians and their henchmen are trying hard to muzzle these voices.
One of the two journalists beaten up by MP Golam Maula Rony. Photo: Star File
Ordinary Bangladeshis are hardly happy with the state of law and order, so much so that they go on protests demanding the assurance of a 'natural death' from the government. In this situation, it seems inevitable that those who sometimes expose the dark sides of our big fishes will not be shown mercy. The latest incident centring MP Golam Maula Rony has become a popular topic among talk show viewers. He ruthlessly flogged the journalist and cameraman of Independent TV as they went to his office to collect news for their crime based programme “Talash”. His TV intellectual image suffered a major dent after this reckless attack on journalists. In fact, this is not an isolated incident. Keeping with tradition our politicians inherit this character of intimidating the media from their predecessors.
In Bangladesh the practice of attacking the media dates back to the early independence period when the Father of the Nation banned all newspapers except four state regulated publications. But violent assaults on journalists ironically, started with the emergence of democracy in Bangladesh. The first heinous attack on free media that shook the people was a brutal attack on reporter Tipu Sultan in 2001. This investigative reporter was digging out some misdeeds of the then MP of Feni, Joynal Hajari. The MP, nicknamed Godfather of Feni, unleashed his cadres who brutally flogged Sultan with sticks, bats and rods. Both his legs and hands were broken. Police refused to file a case against the “godfather” during the caretaker government. But the current Awami League government withdrew the case terming it as a “case of political harassment”. So the godfather of Feni is roaming around freely and Tipu Sultan, now working for Prothom Alo, is still bearing the bitter memory of those days.
Lakshmipur, a small town not far from Feni, trembles in fear of its Mayor Taher. Every citizen of Feni knows the murderous character of Taher and his son Biplob. In fact, Abu Taher has threatened journalists publicly, “If they write a single line against me, I will cut their limbs and will drown them in the Meghna River” (The Daily Prothom Alo, 3rd May, 2004). And his “able” son Biplob has killed a lawyer named Nurul Islam on September 18, 2001 and cut him into pieces before drowning his remains in the Meghna River. The killer is at large after getting Presidential clemency on this case in 2011.
Capturing the truth. Photo: Prabir Das
In 2000 the Awami government's state minister for Relief declared in a public gathering, “If the journalists write against you, break their hands and legs. No news will be published against you.” Just 36 hours after this assurance, a violent mob of AL cadres vandalised Satkhira Press Club and brutally flogged a journalist named Anisur Rahman. (The daily Prothom Alo, May 3, 2004.)
BNP has also achieved expertise in persecuting journalists. According to CPJ, seven journalists have been killed within five years of BNP government's tenure. Murder of prominent journalists like Goutam Das, Manik Saha, Sheikh Belaluddin have been some of the dark chapters in the last BNP government's term in office. Journalists were harassed while doing their duty. In 2002, an MP of Naogaon harassed and beat a journalist because he didn't mention the word “Honourable” while addressing that MP. Vehicles carrying journalists were also set ablaze during the recent strikes.
Even the far rightist groups have a fare share of blame. It seems they have singled out women journalists to materialise their demand on women affairs. In the Dhaka Siege programme of Hefajate Islam, 5 women journalists were physically harassed. The assault on reporter Nadia Sharmin was particularly vicious. But no measure has been taken to investigate the incident. Only a handful of industry leaders offered a single-lined verbal apology in a press conference but with a “wise warning” that the reporters should also be more “responsible” while reporting.
Journalism has now become a victim of violence and persecution. Photo: Star File
Tipu Sultan, an investigative reporter, was tortured almost to death for reporting against a local ruling Awami League leader in 2001. Photo: CPJ
The prime character of Bangladeshi politics is that our political parties have the tendency of not reaching any consensus on the major issues of the day. But surprisingly all of them seem have agreed to the fact that pesky journalists who reveal their dirty laundry will not 'go scot-free'. No government has taken any step against these criminals. Killing of journalist couple Sagar- Runi is a case in point. No motive has still been found behind this brutal crime. A gang of thugs wielding machete attacked the office of bdnews24.com, one of the largest online media outlet a few months ago in which nine journalists were severely wounded. The entire office was vandalised by the attackers. Sometimes even police come into the field with a flag of rescue for the thugs. On May 29, 2012 police burst into the court building and assaulted three journalists and two lawyers in the presence of two senior officers, Salahuddin Khan, the officer in charge at Kotwali police station, and Rajib Al Masud, an assistant police commissioner.
No visible measure is being taken against the assailants of journalists. In most cases the assailants get political shelter, because of which the police don't dare to investigate the cases.
Media is the only source of truth for the common people. Unfortunately few politicians want us to know them. When it comes to gagging the press, there are countries worse than ours. But, a nation that had fought a bloody and ruthless war to make its voice heard, muzzling the free press is against its very own four founding principles. Presently the country is standing at a crossroads, and so is its journalism. In a country plagued with the likes of Hazari and Taher, freedom of speech is going to remain a far cry.
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