Journalists working in the media outlets of East West Media Group Limited (EWMGL) from a human chain today (Aug 20) demanded the arrest of those who attacked the media house within 48 hours.

They gave the ultimatum forming the human chain in front of the media complex in Bashundhara area around 3 pm.

Kaler Kantho Editor-in-Chief Imdadul Haq Milan, Daily Sun Editor-in-chief Enamul Hoque Chowdhury, Banglanews24.com Editor Jewel Mazhar, Daily Sun Editor Md Rezaul Karim Lotus, News24 Executive Editor Rahul Raha, Kaler Kantho Deputy Editor Haider Ali, its planing Editor Mahbubul Haque, Assistant Editor Ali Habib, and Radio Capital Coordinator Ruhul Amin among others participated in the event.

Kaler Kantho Editor-in-Chief Imdadul Haq Milan said: "Unity is our greatest strength. The attack on our media yesterday (Monday) is despicable. I demand proper trial and punishment of these miscreants. The voice of such a big media house cannot be suppressed by such attacks. We are together no matter what. We work to move Bangladesh forward because we will be together."

Daily Sun Editor-in-chief Enamul Hoque Chowdhury said: "May this unity and determination of ours always be intact. we will be one. We will prevent and deal with any terrorist activities as soon as we see them. The anti-discrimination student movement has expressed solidarity with us. We respect them. There is another force at work here. They are carrying out these attacks for their own interests. So, the attack here has nothing to do with the students' movement. This attack is carried out by some miscreants. So we will not give any kind of shelter and place to these miscreants."

Banglanews24.com Editor Jewel Mazhar said: " We strongly condemn this attack, which is not just an assault on us, but an attack on the power of the media. The work of journalists cannot be suppressed by violence. Our voices cannot be silenced by weapons. The entire Bashundhara Media Group stands united. The terrorists want to fish in the troubled water. They stand against truth and justice. We will never compromise with injustice. We appreciate the leaders of the anti-discrimination student movement who have expressed their solidarity with us. We call on the government to take effective measures to ensure the security of all media outlets. 

News24 Executive Editor Rahul Raha said: "This isn't merely an attack on the media; it’s an assault on the people of Bangladesh, as the East West Media Group represents their voice. We will stand firm against this attempt with the power of journalism. I urge the authorities to identify and bring to justice those responsible for this attack. We are prepared to share the video footage we have. We will not bow to any force; we will continue our work with dignity and determination."

Other speakers at the protest programme said that miscreants attacked the country's leading media house with an ill-motive to misdirect the goals of the student-led mass upsurge that ousted the autocratic Awami League government on 5 August.

Strongly condemning the attack on media, they said students were not involved in the unexpected and unacceptable incident.

The miscreants should be identified and punished accordingly by scrutinising the CCTV footages, they remarked.

Mentionable, miscreants carried out an attack on the EWMGL Complex in Bashundhara Residential Area of the capital on Monday afternoon, ransacking the offices of Radio Capital and the Kaler Kantho.

They also vandalised at least 20 vehicles parked on the complex premises, creating a frightening situation and leaving the journalists and employees panic-stricken. 

A female journalist was assaulted during the mayhem.

The criminals chanted different slogans against the deposed Awami League government to make it appear that the quota reform movement activists carried out the attack.

However, the students of North South University and other educational institutions rushed to the EWMGL Complex after hearing about the attack, making it clear that the students had no link with the attack.

They demanded that the attackers be arrested immediately.

EWMGL, the country’s leading media conglomerate, houses English newspaper Daily Sun, two Bangla dailies – Bangladesh Pratidin and Kaler Kantho, online news portal Banglanews24.com, two television channels – News24 and T Sports, and radio station Radio Capital FM 94.8.

BDST: 1936 HRS, AUG 20, 2024

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