27 Bangladesh journalists killed since 1992

Twenty-seven journalists and freelancers have been killed in Bangladesh since 1992, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports.

The global media watchdog says motives behind all these killings could not be confirmed as yet.

This is the state of newsmen when the “International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists” is being observed worldwide.

On the occasion, the European Union said reporters in many countries across the world face an increasing level of intimidation and violence.

“Attacks on journalists are not only attacks on the victims, but also on freedom of expression and freedom of the media,” EU high representative Federica Mogherini said in a declaration.

The CPJ, a New York-based independent organisation, investigates the death of every journalist to determine whether it is work-related one.

According to CPJ, motives of 19 of the killings in Bangladesh were ‘confirmed.’

The victims are Niloy Neel (Freelance, 7 August 2015), Ananta Bijoy Das (Freelance, 12 May 2015), Washiqur Rahman Babu (Freelance, 30 March 2015). Avijit Roy (Freelance, 26 Febuary 2015), Sadrul Alam Nipul, Dainik Mathabhanga (21 May 2014, in Chuadanga), Ahmed Rajib Haider (Freelance, 15 Feb 2013), Jamal Uddin, Gramer Kagoj (15 June 2012, in Kashipur), Gautam Das, Samakal (17 November 2005), Sheikh Belaluddin of Sangram, Kamal Hossain of Ajker Kagoj, Humayun Kabir of Janmabhumi, Manik Saha of New Age, Shukur Hossain of Anirban, Harunur Rashid of Dainik Purbanchal, Nahar Ali of Anirban, Shamsur Rahman of Janakantha, Mir Illias Hossain of Dainik Bir Darpan, Saiful Alam Mukul of Daily Runner and Mohammad Quamruzzaman of Neel Sagar (19 Febuary 1996, in Nilphamari).

CPJ also recorded that motives behind the killing of eight of the Bangladeshi journalists murdered since 1992 remained unconfirmed.

They are Nurul Islam Faruqi of Channel-i, Shah Alam Sagar of Oporadh Domon, Meherun Runi of ATN Bangla, Golam Mustofa Sarowar of Maasranga Television, Diponkar Chakrabarty of Durjoy Bangla, Syed Farroque Ahmed of Pubali Barta, freelancer Ahsan Ali and SM Alauddin of Ogrodoot.

The EU declaration said media are the mirror of societies and ‘if they are free and critical, we are free and safe’.

The EU asked the state authorities to fully abide by their international obligations to effectively, promptly and in an independent manner investigate such crimes and to ensure that both state and non-state perpetrators and instigators of such violence are brought to justice.