Six journalists allegedly harassed by JCD activists at DU

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) activists have allegedly harassed six journalists at Dhaka University (DU) in two separate incidents.

Three members of the DU Journalists’ Association (DUJA) were harassed while covering a tense situation at Bijoy Ekattor Hall on Wednesday evening over wall writing.

At that time, JCD activist Navid Anjum Nivan obstructed Prime Bangladesh’s DU correspondent Iftekhar Sohan Sifat from filming the incident.

Sifat said that despite identifying himself as a journalist, Nivan told him, “Just because you are a journalist does not mean you can record videos here.”

When two other DUJA members -- Asaduzzaman Khan, correspondent of Daily Manab Zamin, and Harun Islam, correspondent of Naya Diganta -- protested the incident, they were also harassed. The situation escalated, but senior JCD leaders present later intervened and brought it under control.

The incident reportedly began following an argument between JCD activists over wall writing in front of the hall parliament room.

In a separate incident at Dr Muhammad Shahidullah Hall around 1:00 am on Thursday, three more journalists were allegedly harassed by JCD activists.

They encountered the situation while gathering information amid tensions between JCD and Islami Chhatra Shibir over wall writing at the hall.

Eyewitnesses said that when the journalists entered a room in the hall shortly before a meeting began in the presence of the house tutor, they were asked to leave. At that time, several JCD activists allegedly approached them aggressively and issued threats.

A DU correspondent of the Daily Observer, one of the victims, said, “Even after we identified ourselves, we were told to leave, being called outsiders. Then several JCD people rushed towards us.”

He further alleged that although the house tutor was present during the incident, no effective steps were taken to ensure the journalists’ safety.

Following the first incident, JCD’s DU unit President Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahas, Office Secretary Mollik Wasi Uddin Tami, and other leaders visited the DUJA office to resolve the matter. They expressed regret to the journalists and assured that such incidents would not recur.

However, the back-to-back harassment of six journalists has raised concerns over the safety of journalists on campus. Members of the journalists’ association have demanded a proper investigation and action against those responsible.