Protest in Chandpur against attacks on mass media

In a show of solidarity against the recent attacks on media personnel and organizations, including East West Media, journalists in Chandpur organized a human chain protest. The event was held on Tuesday (August 20) in front of the Press Club, with the slogan "No to Violence and Conflict, We Want a Free Media Without Discrimination." The protest called for exemplary punishment for those responsible for the violence and vandalism.

The event, moderated by Neyamat Hossain, the Chandpur district correspondent of Bangladesh Pratidin, featured speeches from several prominent local journalists. Among them were Shahadat Hossain Shanto, President of Chandpur Press Club; Kader Palash, district correspondent for Jamuna TV; Khokon Karmakar, district correspondent for News24 Television; Al-Amin Bhuiyan, district correspondent for Ekattor Television; Muhammad Masud Alam, district correspondent for Banglanews24.com; Selim Reza, district correspondent for the Daily Sun; Zakir Hossain, editor and publisher of the daily Alokito Chandpur; and Siam Hossain, a student of Chandpur University of Science and Technology.

Speakers at the protest highlighted the crucial role journalists have played in the current national situation, often at great personal risk, with many being injured or even killed. They emphasized that since Sheikh Hasina stepped down as Prime Minister, media personnel and offices across the country have faced vandalism, looting, and violent attacks. They asserted that those responsible for these acts are not students but terrorists, and called on the authorities to take strict legal action against them, demanding the harshest possible punishment.

Also present at the protest were Al Imran Shovon, district correspondent for Channel 24; Riyad Ferdous, district correspondent for Gazi TV; Talha Jubair, district correspondent for Ekhon TV; Shahriar Palash, BTV Chandpur correspondent and district correspondent for the daily Ittefaq; Shariful Islam, district correspondent for NTV; Atikur Rahman, district correspondent for DBC; Rahman Rubel, district correspondent for Bangla TV; and Billal Dhali of ATN News, among others from local media outlets.