Anti-drug operation at Suhrawardy: 3 journalists attacked in presence of police

Three journalists were attacked while covering an anti-drug operation by Shahbagh Police at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital.

The incident took place on Sunday evening. The injured journalists were taken to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

The injured journalists are Agamir Somoy’s Siam Hossain Gazi, Dainik Protidiner Bangladesh’s Zahirul Islam and freelance journalist Tofayel Ahmed.

According to reports, Shahbagh Police were conducting an anti-drug operation at Suhrawardy Udyan on Sunday evening. The three multimedia journalists were present at the scene to cover the operation. At one point, several people attacked the journalists, seriously injuring all three.

The injured journalists said the attackers identified themselves as students of the University of Dhaka from the 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic sessions.

Following the attack, the injured journalists were quickly taken to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Some of them were reportedly in serious condition.

The operation was led by Shahbagh Police Station Sub-Inspector Ekramul. He told Agamir Somoy, “They were attacked after I left with the accused we had detained.”

Asked about allegations that the attack took place in the presence of police, he said, “I was not there at the time. There may have been other police officers present.”

However, Agamir Somoy reporter Siam Hossain Gazi, who was attacked at the scene, said the journalists were assaulted in the presence of police.

The comment of University of Dhaka Proctor Israfil Ratan could not be obtained.