Geneva: Expressing serious concern over the volatile situation in Bangladesh following the murder of a young political leader, the global media safety and rights body Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) has urged the caretaker government in Dhaka to ensure the safety and security of media professionals across the South Asian country.
Condemning the incidents in which digital media editor Imdadul Haque Milon (45) was killed and an unruly mob attacked two newspaper offices—Prothom Alo and The Daily Star—in the capital on Thursday night, PEC also strongly denounced the physical assault on New Age editor Nurul Kabir, who, along with several media professionals, attempted to prevent the vandals.
Milon, who worked for the online news portal Bartaman Somoy, was targeted by four armed assailants riding motorcycles at Shalua market on the evening of December 18. Seriously injured, Milon was rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital, where the Shalua Press Club office-bearer was declared brought dead by attending doctors.
He is the 163rd journalist killed globally this year and the fifth casualty in Bangladesh, following the deaths of Assaduzzaman Tuhin, Bibhuranjan Sarkar, Wahed-uz-Zaman Bulu, and Khandahar Shah Alam.
“We condemn the shooting of journalist Imdadul Haque Milon. Moreover, the midnight vandalism and arson attacks on Dhaka-based prominent Bengali daily Prothom Alo and acclaimed English newspaper The Daily Star, when many employees, including journalists, were still working, are horrific and deserve denunciation in the strongest terms. Both dailies were even unable to publish their Friday editions,” said Blaise Lempen, president of PEC (pressemblem.ch).
He added that the incidents should be termed an assault on press freedom, which must be protected by the government as the Muslim-majority nation prepares for the general election scheduled for February 12, 2026.
PEC’s South and Southeast Asia representative, Nava Thakuria, said unprecedented violence broke out in the country soon after interim government chief Professor Muhammad Yunus confirmed the death of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi in Singapore, where he had been airlifted for advanced treatment following a bullet injury sustained in Dhaka.
Hadi had come into public prominence during the student-led mass uprising last year that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, forcing the Awami League leader to flee to neighbouring India for shelter. Meanwhile, Professor Yunus spoke to the editors of the affected newspapers and assured them of support and enhanced security assistance.
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