FROM PAGE 16

a briefing following the procession.

The programme was to thwart possible flash processions by activists of the Awami League, whose political activities are now banned, on the party’s 77th founding anniversary yesterday.

At one point, some Jamaat activists reportedly accused a journalist of being an AL supporter. When reporters protested, an argument ensued and later turned violent.

Witnesses said the activists grabbed Shishir by the collar and punched him. As he fell to the ground, some of them kicked him. Fellow journalists later rescued and hospitalised him.

Speaking to reporters, Shishir said, “It is shameful that Jamaat men attacked and injured a journalist. You [Jamaat] speak about media freedom. Does grabbing a journalist by the collar and attacking him represent freedom of the press?”

Jamaat expressed regret over the incident, describing it as unfortunate, and said the party never supports any act that violates party discipline or any extremist behaviour.

In a press release yesterday, Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, the party’s central publicity and media department secretary, said, “We sincerely express our deep regret over the unfortunate, unwarranted and sad incident of an attack on media workers during a peaceful political programme at Dhanmondi 32 in the capital.”

He added that the party would conduct an internal review to identify who was actually involved in the incident and how the “misunderstanding” began. “If the involvement of any of our activists at any level is proven, strict organisational action will be taken against them.

Meanwhile, the Multimedia Reporters Association demanded that justice be ensured for the assault within 24 hours and declared a boycott of covering Jamaat programmes if the demand is not met.

Fakhrul Islam, president of the organisation and multimedia journalist of the daily Ittefaq, made the announcement from a human chain in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh. Multimedia reporters from various newspapers took part in the programme.

In another development, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal expressed concern over the incident and protested what it described as a “barbaric, criminal-style attack and harassment” of journalists by Jamaat leaders and activists.

In a release, Chhatra Dal leaders demanded that those involved in the attack be identified immediately and given exemplary punishment.