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Dhaka TV crew arrested over explosions

Reporters accused of rigging explosions for TV footage
Dhaka TV crew arrested over explosions

Journalists protest against violence on news reporters last year (file photo)

Published: December 02, 2013 08:46 AM GMT
Updated: December 01, 2013 09:28 PM GMT

Police on Sunday arrested two broadcast journalists on the outskirts of Dhaka for allegedly instigating violence during an ongoing opposition party blockade they were covering for a local station.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its allies have staged protest actions since last week over the timing of national polls scheduled for January, including a 72-hour blockade of the city that has seen more than 50 deaths and scores of people injured.

Reporter Syed Tanjib Ahmed and his video cameraman Proshanta Modok, both with private television state RTV, were arrested early on Sunday while covering the blockade in Kamrangir Char.

Police accuse the two journalists of getting protesters to ignite a crude explosive device after failing to capture their first attempt at detonation on camera, according to a police statement.

“They encouraged picketers to explode bombs, so they have been charged under the [Explosive Substances Act of 1987],” said Sheikh Mohsin Alam, a local police official.

Lutfor Rahman, chief news editor at RTV, denied the police allegations and said the arrest was merely an “attack on journalism”.

“Our staff members have been intentionally implicated in the case. They must be released immediately,” Rahman said.

But a Dhaka court on Sunday denied a petition for bail and granted police four days to interrogate the two journalists.

Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, president of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, condemned the arrest and detention of the RTV reporters and called on the government to intervene for their release.

“We condemn the arrest of journalists, and the denial of their bail petition is a violation of human rights. This bad example will spread panic among other journalists. I request the government release them immediately,” Bulbul said on Sunday.

Prominent rights activist Sultana Kamal said the state has constantly failed to protect journalists.

“Democracy wanes when journalists come under constant attacks and state fails to act against it properly,” she said.

Violence against journalists is common in Bangladesh. At least 13 journalists have been killed and nearly 200 have been injured in the last five years, according to local rights groups. In addition, about 400 journalists were allegedly tortured and abused by police and political thugs, the groups say.

Local rights group Odhikar estimates that nearly 4,000 journalists have been victims of some form of violence since 2001.

Last year, New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) ranked Bangladesh as among the worst ( Number 11) in combating deadly anti-press violence.

“Due to lax rules and no justice after violence, Bangladeshi journalists are embattled to reveal the truth. It continues to obstruct freedom of press in the country,” a CPJ report stated last year.

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