Editors’ Council condemns attacks on journalists, demands action

The Editors’ Council has condemned recent attacks, threats, harassment and obstruction of journalists while they were performing their professional duties in different parts of the country.
In a joint statement, President Nurul Kabir and General Secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud described the latest attack on journalists at Rajshahi University as “deeply concerning”.
The council said the journalists were not acting on behalf of any particular side but were carrying out their responsibility to collect information and report the news in the public interest.
It said disagreement with any news report, opinion or professional activity could never justify attacks, threats or obstruction of journalists.
Welcoming the filing of a case and the investigation into the Rajshahi University incident, the council said the probe must be impartial, credible and evidence-based, and those involved must be brought to justice regardless of their political or organisational identities.
The council made a five-point demand, including swift and impartial investigations into recent attacks, exemplary legal action against perpetrators and a safe environment for journalists at political programmes, universities, courts and other public gatherings.