Chattogram has turned into a battlefield due to frequent clashes on the first day of the all-out non-cooperation movement called by the students. At least two hundred people, including two journalists, were injured. Hundreds of people were hurt in this fight. The Daily Star staff reporter Mizanur Rahman and the Khaborer Kagoj staff reporter MK Monir are two of the media persons among them.
The agitators beat and injured two journalists.
According to journalist Monir, "I was heading towards Newmarket via the Amtal region on August 4 at 11 o'clock, leaving the office of Karnaphuli Tower on the bank of Askar Dighi in the city. I was with a couple of other media persons. While driving up Tinpul in Amtal, I noticed some young men smashing bricks on the road. The student anti-discrimination movement involved gathering in front of Shah Amanat Market and holding up banners. As I noticed that things were becoming tense, I went live on Khaborer Kagoj's Facebook page to report the situation. I took a stand to address the live crowd and explain the situation. The area just in front of Shah Amanat Market has a bamboo fence. I stopped performing live at one point. Because at that moment they were expressing rage at the media and banning the video."
"We then walked in front of the Rifles Club. The agitators and the Youth League of Chhatra League engaged in a chase and counter chase. I went live in front of the shuttered market next door. A portion halted in front of us at one point. Everybody had their hands clasped together. People have been provoking fury only by seeing the video for the previous few days. I remember this when I close the live. However, FM Mizanur Rahman, the staff reporter for the Daily Star who remained by my side, was recording video, and their photographer was taking pictures," he continued.
Monir further said that a young man arrived at that moment and became enraged with both him and another journalist, Mizan. 'Why are you not doing news?' they inquired. They smacked a stick across Mizan's head before they could explain it. At one point, they threw him on the ground and started beating him severely with sticks. Someone wanted to take his mobile. He started beating and harassing in this way. When Monir protested, they also hit him with sticks and pushed him."Why don't you cover news stories? What news sources are you following? They asked, "Why aren't you showing me?"
"I was calm after the attack. They all grabbed me and beat me with rods. Although a woman arrived at this point to stop them from beating us, they continued to beat. Somehow, I managed to escape from them and sought refuge in a nearby alley. Then I went to the local drugstore and got first aid. Today, I'm going to the doctor," he said.
Eartlier, journalist Monir had experienced harassment on August 3 near the Newmarket crossroads.
So far, fifteen journalists have been injured in this movement in Chattogram alone.
This report appeared in the print and online edition of Khaborer Kagoj and has been rewritten in English by Farizaa Sabreen
