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At least three journalists have been assaulted at the Supreme Court premises in front of the annex building, with one of them being hospitalised.
The Law Reporters Forum (LRF), an association of journalists covering law, justice, and human rights, has strongly condemned the attack.
Wednesday was the scheduled verdict day for the appeal in the case related to the shooting and bombing of a train carrying Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina in Pabna’s Ishwardi.
As a result, numerous BNP leaders and activists gathered at the court.
The verdict was announced before noon.
Following the announcement, journalists were waiting outside the annex building to interview lawyers when BNP Chairperson’s Advisor Habibur Rahman Habib along with Pabna district BNP leaders and activists arrived at the scene.
JOURNALISTS “PUSHED, BEATEN” AMID CHAOS
Witnesses said as chaos erupted, a young man pushed journalists aside and moved toward the dais.
During the ensuing argument, a group of youths attacked the journalists, punching and kicking them. Several journalists were injured in the assault.
BNP’s Law Affairs Secretary Kaiser Kamal and the party Chairperson’s Special Assistant Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas later intervened to calm the situation.
Kamal facilitated the transfer of injured journalist Zabed Akhter to Islami Bank Hospital in Kakrail using the Supreme Court Bar Association’s ambulance.
Akhter is a senior reporter at ATN News and serves as the Training and Welfare Secretary of the Law Reporters Forum.
In response to the attack, journalists boycotted the briefing and staged a sit-in protest in front of the High Court Annex Building.
LRF DEMANDS JUSTICE FOR ATTACK
Acting President of LRF Hasan Zabed and General Secretary Moniruzzaman Mission have strongly condemned the attack on journalists while on duty.
In a statement, they demanded the immediate identification and exemplary punishment of those responsible.
According to a statement signed by LRF's Organising Secretary SM Nur Mohammad, journalists were waiting in front of the Supreme Court Annex Building to interview lawyers following the High Court's verdict in the Ishwardi case related to the attack on Hasina’s motorcade.
At that time, hundreds of BNP activists from Ishwardi pushed forward to stand in front of the cameras. BNP Chairperson’s Advisor Habib was also present.
During the scuffle, senior reporter Akhter got into a heated exchange with BNP activists.
Soon, 20 to 25 BNP activists from Ishwardi kicked and punched him.
Several other journalists, including senior reporters Azizul Islam Pannu and Hasan Zabed, were assaulted while trying to protect him.
The attackers also vandalised television microphones.
General Secretary Mission said the Supreme Court administration and the Attorney General’s Office have been informed about the incident.
LRF leaders plan to meet with Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed to ensure that journalists can work safely at the Supreme Court premises.
It reiterated its demand for swift legal action and “exemplary” punishment for those involved in the attack.