Jamaat activists attack journalists in Dhanmondi, label them 'Awami aides'

Jamaat-e-Islami activists attacked journalists in Dhaka's Dhanmondi 32 area on Tuesday, June 23, labelling them 'Awami aides' during a briefing following a protest march.

Jamuna Television Senior Reporter Rabbi Siddiqui and Daily Sakal Multimedia Reporter Mahfuzur Rahman Shishir were beaten during the incident.

A Jamaat protest march against the banned Awami League's 77th founding anniversary was held in the Dhanmondi 32 area around 8:30 am. During the briefing after the march, activists labelled journalists 'Awami aides', prompting protests from some journalists.

Several journalists were attacked, leaving Rabbi and Shishir injured.

Witnesses said Jamaat-e-Islami activists grabbed journalist Mahfuzur Rahman Shishir by the collar, punched him, and kicked him when he fell to the ground.

Speaking to fellow journalists, Shishir said, "Jamaat activists have beaten and injured me. This is shameful."

"You talk about press freedom. Is grabbing a journalist by the collar and beating him an example of that freedom?" he added.

Dhanmondi Thana Jamaat executive council member Mujibur Rahman Khan called the incident "unfortunate" and suggested that outsiders may have infiltrated the programme.