Bangladesh Journalists Rights' Forum-BJRF

Journalism in Bangladesh: Country Report–2004
Written by Mr. Ataur Rahman
General Secretary
Bangladesh Journalists rights' Forum-BJRF

Journalism became a most risky profession in Bangladesh. The risks are on the increase with arrest, torture and even death threats with white cloths for their news reports and opinions which reflect social realities. Bangladesh is one of the most violent countries in South Asia for journalists.

Five Journalists were killed from January to October 2004 and 252 were given death threats, 110 tortured or harassed in 80 incidents of press bashing, Cases were filed against 35 newsman while another 35 threatened 25 injured. Six were arrested and ten harassed. Growing muscle power of various circles of wrongdoers is making media reporting risky every passing day, showing a substantial number of journalists subjected to assault across the country.

Dipankar Chakrabarty, Executive Editor the Bogra-based Durjoy Bangla newspaper was brutally murdered near his home in Sherpur Upazila on 2 October 2004; He was the fifth journalist to be killed in Bangladesh since the beginning of the year. Chakrabarty had taken tea at a local restaurant and was attacked by unidentified assailants while walking home. He was attacked with traditional axes and knives from behind and beheaded. Chakrabarty was the vice-president of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, ex-president of Bogra Union of Journalists (BUJ) and Sherpur Press Club and incumbent convener of Sherpur Reporters' Unity.

Kamal Hossain, 35, Correspondent of the daily Ajker Kagoj was killed on 22 August. He was a general secretary of the Manikchhari press club under Chittagone Division; He had earlier received death threats from some miscreants.

Humayun Kabir Balu, 57, editor of Dainik Janmabhumi a regional daily in the south-western city of Khulna was killed in a bomb attack on 27 June 2004.

Manik Shaha 50, of the daily New Age and a BBC correspondent was murdered when a bomb was thrown at his head in Khulna on 15 January.

Freelance journalists Mr Nabile Ahmmed 27, was killed in Dhaka on March 07, 2004 by some miscreants .

At least 13 journalists have been killed in south and south-west Bangladesh in the past ten years. Balu was the second Khulna press club president to be killed in 2004.

More than 40 journalists were attacked and assaulted across the country in July this year alone. A total of 20 journalists were assaulted and injured, two were abducted and 11 others were threatened in the countryside in July.

A total of 28 journalists were subjected to attacks in August. Twelve press club offices were attacked.
A few days before his murder he had helped police to identify some gang members.

Political militants, criminal gangs or religious extremists constantly target journalists in Bangladesh for brutal attack. Since 18 August, the daily Prothorn Alo has received threats from several Islamist organisations angered by the newspaper's exposure on Middle East funding for the religious schools, the madrasas. Eight journalists were injured in grenade attacks on the Awami League opposition party rally in Dhaka on 21 August.

Four journalists have been assaulted since 13 August and more than 60 others have been threatened in less than one month.

In the May-June period, 108 journalists were tortured or harassed in 80 incidents of press bashing. The highest number of 31 subjected to assault in Rajshahi division and the lowest six in Sylhet. A total of 108 newsmen having fallen under mischief of the muscle-flexing circles, 103 belong to print media while five to electronic media. Cases were filed against 30 newsmen while 30 threatened, 14 injured, six arrested and 10 harassed, Besides, the houses of five came under attack; three were prevented from distributing newspapers, three kidnapped and six obstructed from discharging their professional duties. Reporting on terrorist activities, corruption, intra-party grouping, smuggling, extortion, conflict of the UP chairmen, drug running, activities of the extremist groups and immoral acts of police were cited as the cause of ire against the reporters. Out of 80 incidents, 34 took place under the influence of political leaders and activists, 16 of businessmen and smugglers, 11 of police and administrative officials, and three for rivalry among the journalists. Reasons for 16 of the incidents were not known.

A total of 30 journalists were injured, 29 attacked, 60 more threatened and three were arrested in the first three months ( January to March )2004.

Bangladesh appeared to be one of the most violent countries in the world for journalists, with almost daily cases of physical assaults and intimidation-particularly in rural areas. Local journalists say they are increasingly under threat for reporting on political violence, graft, and organized crime, but that the main cause of brutality against the press in Bangladesh is pervasive corruption. The professional rights and freedom of journalists are being curbed frequently now either by laws or by other restraints imposed by the government. The risks are on the increase with arrest, torture and even death for their news reports which reflect social realities.

Despite these risks, more and more qualified and competent youths are joining the profession of journalism, with the conviction that journalism is a noble profession. Simultaneously, big companies in the country are investing large some of money in media sector. Within the last four years the print media has been enormously upgraded in line with the growing demand of the readers. Electronic media are also flourishing in the country. Besides the state-owned television, three private televisions are in the air now. Another 3 or four companies is trying to get licenses to install private TV stations.

According to the statistics there are 7750 journalists working in different newspapers and news agencies in Bangladesh. Among them 2600 are full-time journalists. There are 25 journalists’ organizations in Dhaka. The Bangladesh Journalists Rights Forum (BJRF) is a national organization for journalists in the country attempting to organize journalists in 64 Districts. Working conditions of journalists are not good at all. Although the Fifth Wage Board Award was announced in October 1997, most of the newspapers are still now reluctant to implement it. Even the Newspaper Employees (Condition and Services) Act, 1974 is formulated, the professional journalists are working without wages and in extremely adverse conditions. The division in the main journalists’ union weakened the struggle against the irregularities.
The Government advertisement policies are also hindering the development of newspaper industries. Newspapers, which publish news about corruption or misdeeds of the government, find themselves without advertisements, thus making it difficult to continue publication. Following are some specific cases of violation of press freedom: During the past few years journalists’ organizations and leaders of journalists’ community urged the government to stop harassment of journalists.

Mass Media and Laws
According to the Ministry of Information, 2215 newspapers and periodicals, including 378 national and regional dailies, are being published in the country.

Additionally, Four news agencies including Bengali News service Bangladesh Sangbad Sangtha (BSS), a state-owned national news agency, and the privately owned national news agency- the United News of Bangladesh (UNB), Annandha Bangla Sangbad (ABAS) News service and National News Service (NNB) are operating in the country.
At present, Bangladesh also has a state-owned television and three satellite television stations in the private sector. The media in Bangladesh face restrictive laws enacted right from 1876 to 1991 which restrain freedom of expression. These laws control private media, news agencies, radio, television, theatre, audio-video materials, VCR rental and video copying, cinema, advertising, and telecommunication.

Main reason for repression of journalists
The disunity among of journalists and journalists organizations has been continuing to the harm of the country and the community have main reason for repression of journalists .This disunity is responsible for oppression of journalists who can not raise united voice . This situation must be changed for the wealthy growth by journalists and healthy growth of democratic society. Journalists will be fighting for their rights and this call for total unity of the journalists community. Most of the press lord of Bangladesh have been publishing news papers to protect their businesses and others interest . It is time for journalists to get united to realize their demands and work for realization of their democratic rights as well the rights of the people .

Action Plan of BJRF
The Bangladesh Journalists Rights Forum (BJRF) organized seminars and workshops on different issues in 64 districts to promote open discussion .Political leaders and Member of parliaments and leaders and representatives of professional associations were present in seminars and workshops .

The BJRF also organised various national seminar in different parts in Bangladesh. The BJRF also organized a national seminar at the National Press Club, Dhaka, recently, where speakers addressed the issue of risks and prospects of journalism in Bangladesh. They urged the government to formulate a Special Protection Act to ensure professional rights and safety for journalists. They also stressed the needed for greater coordination in the journalists community, particularly between different organizations and greater unity among the journalists’ organizations to uphold rights of journalists.

The BJRF will organise and campaigns programme in 64 districts with local journalists organisation and press club nest two years for journalists unity and capacity building . The BJRF will organise campaigns awareness programme for press freedom at a time on may 3 international press freedom day around the country .