Bangladesh: CFWIJ condemns the attack on Afroza Sarkar

September 24, 2021, Rangpur- Journalist Afroza Sarkar was physically assaulted at the conclusion of an event she was attending. Afroza and a colleague of hers, who was also injured in the attack, are under treatment. The unidentified men who attacked the journalists remain at large. The incident comes as a shocking reminder of how unsafe journalists are in the country.

The incident took place on Friday, September 24, at the premises of Rangpur Reporters’ Club. The club was hosting a scheduled biennial general meeting of the reporters’ organization, and as the twice-elected literary and cultural affairs secretary of the club, Afroza was in attendance. As the meeting concluded, local goons entered the club’s premises and physically attacked Afroza and four of her male colleagues. The attackers fled after physically assaulting club members and continue to benefit from negligible legal action against them.

Afroza and newly elected Co-Secretary General Azam Parvez are currently undergoing treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital.

The incident marks how unsafe women journalists and independent journalist unions are in the country. It also sheds light on how dangerous local reporting and grassroots journalism has become, with press workers provided little to no support from the state when threatened.

It is also deeply concerning that the attack received little to no attention in the Bangladeshi news landscape. Many media outlets only reported the incident after an international media watchdog took note of it. One has to remember that grassroots journalism is perhaps the most unglamorous, yet one of the most important facets of a free press. Journalists who are engaged in such work need extra support from their industry as well as the state.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands an immediate investigation into the incident and urges law enforcement agencies to hold the perpetrators to account. Such violence against the press should not be tolerated in any society, let alone in one that claims to abide by democratic principles. Considering the attack was entirely unprovoked, the authorities should also ensure the safety of other members of the Rangpur Reporters’ Club. We stand in solidarity with Afroza and other club members who were attacked, and are hopeful of a quick and complete recovery.