PEN International condemns assault on four journalists at Rajshahi University

PEN International has condemned the assault on four journalists at Rajshahi University allegedly by members of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, calling for an independent investigation and accountability amid mounting threats to press freedom in Bangladesh.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the international writers’ organisation said the October 4 attack reflected a wider pattern of violence, threats and intimidation against journalists, undermining independent reporting and fuelling self-censorship.

The journalists were reportedly attacked while documenting a group of JCD activists carrying machetes, hockey sticks and bats who were allegedly seeking to assault a student union leader over a social media post, it said.

At least 10 people were injured in the incident, including Nur Ahsan Mridul of The Daily Star, Zahidul Islam of Agamir Shomoy, Arifuzzaman Korban of bdnews24.com and Mainul Islam Raju of Samakal.

According to reports cited by PEN International, the journalists were assaulted while performing their professional duties. Colleagues who attempted to intervene were threatened, while attempts were made to seize journalists’ phones and prevent them from recording the incident.

Ma Thida, chair of PEN International’s Writers in Prison Committee, said attacks on journalists threatened not only their safety but also the public’s right to information.

‘No political party that claims to defend fundamental rights can tolerate violence against the press or allow those responsible to escape accountability,’ she said, urging authorities to ensure the protection of journalists.

The university administration filed a police case, while the university and JCD formed separate investigation committees. However, PEN International said reports indicated limited progress towards accountability. JCD reportedly expelled two leaders and one activist over the assault.

The organisation stressed that internal disciplinary measures could not replace criminal accountability and urged the authorities to ensure prompt, thorough, independent and effective investigations into crimes against journalists.

The Rajshahi incident followed other attacks and threats against journalists. On October 15, journalist Lutfozzaman Fakir Alif was shot dead in northern Bangladesh. Alif had investigated suspected corruption and criminal organisations, it added.

A day earlier, at least three journalists were reportedly harassed while covering a clash between two JCD factions in Kushtia. Party activists allegedly confronted journalists attempting to film the clash and tried to delete their footage, the statement said.

On August 25, three journalists covering a Bangladesh Nationalist Party rally in Shariatpur were allegedly beaten by party leaders and activists. One journalist said a BNP leader snatched his phone, tore his press identification card and threatened further violence, claiming the party had a list of journalists it intended to target, said the organisation.

The Bangladesh Association of Journalists documented 51 cases of attacks, legal harassment, threats and professional obstruction in August alone, according to the statement.

PEN International also recalled the December 2025 attacks on the offices of The Daily Star and Prothom Alo in Dhaka, when mobs set fire to buildings and forced both newspapers to suspend publication temporarily.

It cited concerns raised by the United Nations human rights office in December 2025 that the interim government had ‘largely followed the previous patterns of impunity, normalising attacks and threats without consequences for the perpetrators’.

PEN International warned that political transitions alone could not guarantee press freedom, stressing that accountability for attacks was essential to protecting journalists and the public’s right to information.