Editors Council Condemns Growing Violence Against Journalists, Demands Swift Action
Dbarta24 Report — Expressing grave concern over a surge in violence, harassment, and intimidation targeting working journalists across the country, the Editors Council has called for immediate, impartial, and robust legal measures against perpetrators regardless of their political or organizational affiliations.
In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, signed by Editors Council President Nurul Kabir and General Secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud, the platform strongly condemned the persistent obstacles placed before media professionals attempting to fulfill their duties in the public interest.
The statement drew specific attention to a recent violent assault at Rajshahi University on October 4, where at least 10 people—including four working journalists—were injured during an assignment.
The Council highlighted that news professionals do not work for any particular faction, but rather gather facts and report events to serve the public’s fundamental right to know.
“Even if there are disagreements with any report, opinion, or professional work of a journalist, there is no acceptability for attacks, threats, or obstruction of professional duties,” the Council stated. “An attack on a journalist is not merely an assault on an individual professional; it is an attack on independent journalism, freedom of expression, and the public’s right to know.”
While welcoming the ongoing investigation and case filing regarding the Rajshahi University incident, the Council stressed that the probe must be credible, evidence-based, and entirely neutral.
The organization urged law enforcement agencies not to accord any impunity based on political or institutional identity.
To restore a safe working climate for media personnel, the Editors Council outlined several core demands:
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Prompt Investigations: Immediate and unbiased investigations into all recent incidents of violence, threats, and harassment against journalists.
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Equal Accountability: Bringing perpetrators to justice irrespective of their political background or affiliations.
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Safe Working Environments: Guaranteeing secure environments for journalists covering political programs, university campuses, courts, administrative offices, and public gatherings.
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End to Intimidation: An immediate cessation of coercive tactics, intimidation, and operational barriers against media workers.
Additionally, the Council called upon all political entities and their affiliated wings to explicitly declare their commitment to media safety and press freedom.
Emphasizing that press security is an indispensable pillar of a democratic order rather than a privilege, the Council noted that independent journalism cannot flourish under fear or coercion.
It urged the government, law enforcement agencies, political parties, educational institutions, and stakeholders to take visible action to prosecute offenders and prevent future violence.
