Eight journalists were injured in two separate terrorist attacks in Shariatpur and Lakshmipur recently. The Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) has strongly condemned these attacks, urging swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice. 

According to reports, four journalists were injured on Monday (3 February) when terrorists attacked them in the Ganesh Shyampur area of Lakshmipur Sadar upazila.

The victims include Rafiqul Islam, district correspondent of Dainik Khoborer Kagoj; Mohammad Alauddin, General Secretary of Chandraganj Press Club; Faisal Mahmud, Publicity Secretary of the same press club; and Abdul Malek Nirab. They are currently undergoing treatment at Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital. 

In a separate incident, armed assailants attacked journalists with local weapons, knives, and hammers in front of the Shariatpur Deputy Commissioner's office.

Dainik Samakal district correspondent Sohag Khan Sujan sustained serious injuries. When other journalists tried to help him, Bidhan Majumder, Nayon, and Saiful were also attacked. Locals rushed the injured to the hospital.

Condemning the attacks, HRSS said in a press release that journalists have the right to perform their professional duties freely, as per Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and national regulations. Any grievances regarding journalistic work should be addressed legally, not through violence.

The organisation demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of the attackers, alongside proper medical treatment and compensation for the injured journalists. HRSS also called on the government to take effective measures to ensure the safety of media professionals across the country. 

HRSS reports indicate a rise in violence against journalists, with 308 attacks recorded in 2025, affecting 726 journalists. Among them, 10 were killed, 459 injured, 59 harassed, 45 threatened, 19 arrested, and 134 faced legal cases. In January alone, 19 attacks targeted 28 journalists, leaving 19 injured, two threatened, and one arrested. 

The HRSS emphasised that journalists are a crucial pillar of democracy, and attacks on them pose a direct threat to press freedom. Various human rights organisations and media professionals have demanded a fair investigation and trial. It now remains to be seen what steps the government and law enforcement agencies take to ensure justice and the safety of journalists.