Journalists protest attack in Sylhet

A massive protest rally was held in Sylhet following an attack on journalists while they were performing their professional duties at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital. The protesters demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible.

Journalists Reza Rubel and Nibendu Talukdar were allegedly assaulted by intern doctors at the hospital. In protest against the incident and to demand exemplary punishment for the attackers, journalists from across Sylhet organized a large demonstration.

The rally was held on Saturday afternoon in front of the Central Shaheed Minar in the Chauhatta area of the city. Leaders of various journalist organizations, politicians, representatives of social organizations and prominent personalities joined the demonstration to express solidarity.

The rally was presided over by Sylhet Press Club President Muktabis-un-Nur and conducted by Sylhet District Press Club General Secretary Mohammad Nasir Uddin. Speakers strongly condemned the attack on journalists and expressed outrage. They demanded the immediate arrest of those involved, the formation of an impartial investigation committee and exemplary punishment.

Speakers said the protest was not merely for journalists but was intended to awaken the entire Sylhet community. In the past, journalists had stood beside intern doctors during their movements at Osmani Medical College Hospital and reported on their demands. Yet those same journalists had been subjected to violence. They said the practice of disrupting medical services and holding patient’s hostage could not be allowed to continue under any circumstances.

They said attacks on journalists while performing their professional duties were highly condemnable. If such incidents were not properly investigated and punished, they could recur in the future. The attack was not just against journalists but against the entire nation. Osmani Medical College Hospital is an asset of the people of Sylhet. They said no form of hooliganism would be allowed to take hold there. The attackers must be arrested immediately and brought under the law.

The speakers further said that three days had passed since the incident, but no visible action had been taken by the hospital authorities. Although the administration had previously taken immediate steps to resolve disruptions at the hospital, the failure to form an impartial investigation committee following the attack on journalists was disappointing.

They said failure to conduct a fair investigation and take action against those responsible would undermine public trust. Such incidents were also putting the reputation of the entire medical community under scrutiny.