Journalist assaulted in front of judge inside courtroom

Asif Hossain, a reporter for Somoy TV, was assaulted by lawyers during the bail hearing of expelled Awami League leader and former minister Abdul Latif Siddique, who is currently in jail in connection with a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The incident took place on Thursday afternoon inside the courtroom of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court in Dhaka.

Speaking to the assaulted journalist and eyewitness lawyers, it was learned that today was the scheduled bail hearing for expelled Awami League leader Abdul Latif Siddique, who was arrested in a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act, as well as for journalist Manzurul Alam (Panna). Although Latif Siddique was not produced in court, Manzurul Alam was brought from prison into the courtroom.

“Journalist Manzurul Alam Panna was brought into court by the police wearing a helmet, handcuffs, and a bulletproof vest, with a whistle being blown as he was escorted in. He appeared visibly distressed. At that moment, Panna turned to the police and said, ‘Why are you treating me like this? I’m not your enemy.’ I then asked him, ‘Brother, have you been tortured inside the jail?’ Journalist Panna replied, ‘No.’”

Journalist Muktadir Rashid said: “While I was speaking to Manzurul Alam, lawyer Mohiuddin Mahi, who was present in the courtroom, began scolding me and ordering me to leave. I responded by saying that only the judge has the authority to ask someone to leave the courtroom. ‘If the judge asks, I will leave. Let him speak,’ I said.”

He continued, “When I said this to Mohiuddin, he became aggressive and attempted to assault me.”

At this point, Asif Hossain, the journalist from Somoy TV who was assaulted, told Prothom Alo: “I was trying to explain to Mohiuddin Mahi bhai that the person he was confronting is a journalist. As soon as I said that, he punched me. I raised my TV boom mic and shouted to the judge that I was being attacked. Immediately, several other lawyers began punching and hitting me indiscriminately. I could barely breathe at one point.

Eventually, Assistant Public Prosecutor Kaiyum Hossain, defense lawyer Farzana Yasmin (representing Manzurul Alam), other lawyers, and fellow journalists present in the courtroom intervened and rescued me. I demand justice for this assault.”

Supreme court lawyer AKM Mohiuddin has denied assaulting journalist Asif Hossain. Speaking to Prothom Alo, he said: “I was in the courtroom for the hearing of a different case while the bail hearing for journalist Manzurul Alam Panna was taking place. I noticed someone was speaking to Panna and taking pictures, disrupting the court's environment. I requested him to stop speaking and take pictures later.

At that point, the Somoy TV journalist began confronting me and a few other lawyers, saying, ‘Do you know who he is? He’s a leader among journalists.’ There was a verbal exchange and some pushing and shoving, but I personally did not lay a hand on him.”

Omar Faruq Faruqi, Chief Public Prosecutor (PP) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Court, condemned the assault:

“During the hearing inside the courtroom, journalist Asif from Somoy TV was physically attacked. I can confirm that no lawyers from BNP, Jamaat, or the prosecution team were involved in the incident.

Those who attacked the journalist were lawyers representing the defendant. Legal action must be taken against those involved, as assaulting a journalist during court proceedings is deeply unfortunate and unacceptable.”

Regarding the incident, Md Tarek Zubayer, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of the Prosecution Division at Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), told Prothom Alo: “If the Somoy TV journalist who was assaulted during the bail hearing of journalist Manzurul Alam Panna files a written complaint at the police station, legal action will definitely be taken against those involved in the assault.”

Journalist Asif Hossain, the victim, said: “I’ve been reporting from the court for a long time. All I said was, ‘The person you’re telling to leave is a journalist.’ Just for saying that, the lawyers attacked me. I demand justice.”

Syed Nazrul Islam, General Secretary of the ad-hoc committee of the Dhaka Bar Association, told Prothom Alo: “After hearing about the assault on the Somoy TV journalist, I went to the courtroom. I spoke to both parties. I can confirm that no lawyers affiliated with the BNP were involved in this incident.”