Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has strongly condemned and expressed deep concern over the “armed attack and death threats” against media workers at Rajshahi University (RU), calling for justice irrespective of the political identity or influence of those involved.
In a statement on Monday, it called on the leadership of the ruling BNP and opposition Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami to undertake fundamental reforms and effective initiatives for self-correction within their respective parties and affiliated organisations to end the violent struggle for asserting authority.
According to media reports, an attack allegedly involving leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal took place at RU on Sunday night, leaving at least 10 people, including four journalists, injured.
The RU proctor acknowledged the administration’s failure, while, according to his account, the police also fled out of fear, TIB said.
Reacting to the incident, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, “Justice must be ensured for the media workers and students who were attacked. Regardless of their political affiliation or power, the perpetrators of the attack, along with their accomplices and supporters, must be prosecuted and held to a high standard through an unbiased investigation.”
“We must ensure appropriate medical treatment for the injured, security for media workers and students, and accountability of the police, including an investigation into the reasons for their failure to discharge their duties,” he said.
Attacks on journalists compromise the public’s right to information and limit the ability to hold those in positions of authority responsible, Iftekharuzzaman said, adding that the state must provide remedies for this.
He said the “helplessness” of the university authorities and the police’s “failure” to act, including their reported retreat, demonstrate that resolving such power-struggle-driven problems cannot depend solely on holding those directly responsible accountable.
“Without fundamental reforms and self-correction within political parties, particularly those in positions of power, not only will the aspirations of the July Uprising remain distant, but fundamental rights, including freedom of the media, freedom of speech and dissent, security of life and livelihood, and equal rights for all citizens, will face increasingly serious threats,” the TIB executive director said.
Calling for specific action by the political leadership, he said, “Can the ruling BNP and the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami evade their primary political responsibility to end the violent struggle for asserting authority and to control their respective parties and affiliated organisations?”
Rather than considering their responsibility discharged merely by forming investigation committees or taking organisational measures, they must stop providing patronage and protection to violence, ensure an environment conducive to bringing those involved in criminal activities under the law, and establish democratic practices and accountability in party decisions and conduct, Iftekharuzzaman said.
He said without ensuring such changes within their own organisations, it will not be possible for political parties to earn public trust. “Political leaders must realise that they are increasingly detached from the people due to their party leaders’ and activists’ behaviour.”
“There is no scope to view this incident in isolation,” the TIB chief said, explaining that the administration’s failure to stop the attack is part of a larger context of the university’s institutional authority erosion.
“Demands for the resignation of vice-chancellors and teachers, violence over influence on campus, attempts at occupying spaces and institutions, and displays of muscle power at different times have also exposed this institutional weakness,” he said.
Iftekharuzzaman underscored the need for protecting students’ right to seek justice and to peacefully raise their demands. “If allegations arise against a vice-chancellor or teachers, we must ensure impartial investigation and due process-based accountability.”
However, party influence, intimidation, or the use of force to enforce demands for resignation cannot be accepted, he said. “A situation in which, under political patronage, a section of students becomes so empowered that the university administration is unable to discharge its responsibilities and the police fail to enforce the law cannot be allowed to continue.”
The TIB executive director said universities must be governed by law and regulations, not by the dominance of party power.
The organisation called for an investigation into the university authorities’ and police’s “failures” and for fixing responsibility. “There can be no scope for evading responsibility by citing political pressure or helplessness.”
The government must ensure that political identity does not become a shield against criminal accountability and that university administrations and law enforcement agencies are able to discharge their responsibilities independently of partisan influence, it said.