At least 10 people including policemen and journalists were injured in a clash between BNP activists and law enforcers during picketing amid the 48-hour hartal being observed by the party and like-minded opposition parties. Locals said that BNP activists brought out a procession in favour of the hartal in Puratan Bus Stand area around 11 am and vandalised some vehicles, causing panic on the streets. Also read: 11 arson attacks reported in 15 hours: Fire Service A clash broke out when police barred the BNP men from marching forward, they said. At one stage of the altercation, the picketers hurled brickbats targeting the law enforcers who retaliated with tear gas shells, they said. Rajan Kumar Das, additional superintendent of district police, said they used tear shells and opened blank fire to control the situation. Also read: Jamaat’s registration to remain cancelled: SC dismisses party’s appeal Ten people, including three policemen, were injured in the clash, he said, adding that the situation is now under their control. Local BNP leaders could not be reached over the phone for comments in this connection. Also read: RAB arrests 4, including Sramik Dal leader, from Dhaka's Jatrabari in sabotage case

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday (November 02, 2023) urged the country’s journalists to expose the real face of the BNP before the international community as the opposition party’s activists swooped on the media persons who were covering their October 28 rally. “You, journalists, should expose internationally the real character of those who attacked you while performing duty,” she said. The premier was addressing the Delegates Conference-2023 of BFUJ-Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists at the National Press Club in the city. Noting that the anti-liberation forces have no right here in Bangladesh, she said, “Those who believe in terrorism and militancy have no right here. They don’t want the welfare of the people of this country and they are foes of the people.” The PM said the attackers of journalists and police must pay as some 30 journalists were injured in the attacks carried out by BNP men on October 28 last. Read more: Day 3 of blockade: 4 vehicles burnt in Dhaka, Narayanganj so far She said the BNP men carried out attacks even in disguise on that day, believing that they could remain unidentified and escape punishment. But they’ve finally been caught, she said. “They carried such misdeeds. Those who kill and attack journalists and police must face punishment,” she said. Hasina strongly condemned the way BNP attacked journalists and police. “Committing terrorist acts is their character,” she said. She also blasted different international organisations of journalists, including Reporters Without Borders for keeping silent over this attack. “Where are they now? We don’t see them and don’t hear any words from them. Where have they disappeared suddenly?” she said. The PM said some 30 journalists were injured and some have been receiving treatment in hospitals. “But we don’t hear anything from any of them,” she said. She compared the BNP’s attack on the police hospital here to the bombing on a Palestine hospital by Israel. They (BNP) carried out the attack on a hospital here the same way the Israel bombed a Palestine hospital and killed women and children. “I don’t know if they are taking lessons from the Jews,” said the prime minister. Talking about the 9th wage board for journalists, PM Hasina said it is the responsibility of the owners to implement it. It is very unfortunate that they filed a case instead of implementing it. She said the preparation continues to form the 10th wage board and the government has a plan to bring electronic media journalists under the wage board. She put emphasis on bringing the journalists who are working outside Dhaka under the coverage of the wage board. The premier announced to provide another amount of Tk 10 crore as donation to the Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust. The fund was formed with the seed money provided by the prime minister. She assured the journalists working outside Dhaka of giving plots to them under district-based housing projects. Noting that there is a huge number of newspapers in Bangladesh, she said the number of newspapers is not so high even in many developed and rich countries. There are 3,241 newspapers in the country, she said. Turning to the development of Bangladesh, she said today’s Bangladesh has gained the status of a developing country thanks to the continuation of the democracy and the government from 2009-2023. Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud spoke as the special guest at the function chaired by BFUJ President Omar Faruque. BFUJ Secretary General Dip Azad conducted the event, while President of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Sohel Haider Chowdhury and leaders of different units of BFUJ spoke on the occasion. In the function, former BFUJ leaders were honoured with crests. Read more: EC letter inviting BNP’s jailed leader for talks on polls returns undelivered: Sources

Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) on Friday expressed its grave concern over the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza strip. Innocent journalists are being targeted frequently and at least 24 journalists have been killed since October 7. US Ambassador hosts reception for DCAB In a statement DCAB President Rezaul Karim Lotus and General Secretary Emrul Kayesh condemned the targeted killing of innocent journalists in Gaza strip, noting that this is irreparable loss to their families. Killing of journalists in line of duty is a heinous crime and cowardice act, the world must now speak out against the killing of innocent journalists in Gaza, they said. DCAB pays tribute to Bangabandhu DCAB demanded neutral and full investigation into those killings under the UN system and the persons involved in such killings need to be brought to justice . DCAB called upon all sides to refrain from killing the innocent journalists. Lotus, Kayesh elected DCAB President, GS The DCAB executives expressed deep condolences and extended sympathy to the family members of the journalists who lost their precious lives.

A limited number of journalists in Gaza are trying to report on the war with Israel while facing the same problems as the besieged Palestinian population there — wondering where to live, where to get food and water, and how to stay safe. The aftermath of Tuesday's explosion that killed hundreds at a Gaza City hospital is the latest example of how that reality hinders the world's ability to get a full picture of what is happening to the Palestinian population In Gaza. Outside journalists have been unable to enter Gaza since the Hamas attack in Israel on Oct. 7. The sole entry point for journalists, Israel's Erez crossing, was attacked in the rampage and remains closed. A handful of news organizations had maintained a regular presence with bureaus there, including The Associated Press, the BBC, Reuters, Agence France-Presse and Al-Jazeera, with a network of stringers helping others. Israel's order to Palestinians to evacuate the northern part of Gaza led journalists at AP and AFP, for example, to abandon bureaus in Gaza City and head south. As Israel readies troops for ground assault, Gaza awaits urgently needed aid from Egypt "Working in Gaza right now is extremely difficult and that's in large part because our staff are both covering the story and worrying about their own safety and the safety of their families," said Julie Pace, executive editor and senior vice president of The Associated Press. AP staff stocked up on bottled water and other supplies before abandoning their Gaza City bureau, which replaced an office destroyed by Israeli bombs in 2021. Even with power supplies limited, AP staff members have provided photos, video and other reporting each day since the war's start, Pace said. No such luck for a camera left behind on the bureau's balcony that provided a live stream of the skyline; the generator likely ran out of fuel. The nine Agence France-Presse journalists in Gaza feel caught in a squeeze between wanting to work and also take care of their families, said Phil Chetwynd, global news director. Managers are stressing the importance of safety first, he said. "This is a population that over the years has been used to fairly extreme situations, but I think they would all say that this is on a much, much bigger scale," Chetwynd said, referring to the previous four wars between Israel and Hamas. At least 19 journalists have been killed since the start of the war, 15 of them in Gaza, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. Already, more journalists have been killed in Gaza during the past two weeks than in the territory since 2001, said Sherif Mansour, CPJ's Middle East and North Africa coordinator. On CNN, journalist Ibrahim Dahman reported on the journey to find safety that he took with his wife and two sons, ages 7 and 11. One son plaintively asked when they found a room: "They don't strike hotels, right?" "I feel intense fear," Dahman said. "I am worried about myself, my wife and my children." Gazans find nowhere is safe during Israel’s relentless bombing AP photojournalist Adel Hana's family fled to the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah, below the evacuation line, to shelter in a cousin's home near the local hospital. But a series of blasts rocked the building, killing at least seven family members and burying women and children in the rubble, he said. "It doesn't make sense," Hana said. "We went to Deir al-Balah because we thought we would be safe." Marwan al-Ghoul, working for CBS News, was similarly heading south with his family in Gaza. When he came upon the aftermath of a bombing in a residential area, he got out to film scenes of bodies buried in rubble and crying children walking through the bombing site. The need to bear witness, the journalists said, came after a week of intense focus on the attacks in Israel, where news media have been working freely. News organizations are conscious of the need to show that there is suffering on both sides. Even with fewer news organizations operating in Gaza, there is a rich journalism tradition there, said Andrew Roy, CBS News' London bureau chief. With advances in technology, many people are able to tote cameras to noteworthy scenes, he said. That was the case after Tuesday's explosion at al-Ahli hospital. "You can often show people things that in the past you would not have been able to show," Roy said.   Even without a full-time staff member in Gaza, The New York Times offered on its website Wednesday a graphic that detailed the hospital grounds, an overhead still picture of the blast scene that showed burnt-out cars and video that depicted the fiery aftermath of the explosion , taken at some distance through a fence. The Times said it had independently verified the video's accuracy. Still, the material doesn't replace professional journalists able to quickly reach the scene and interview people there. "Eyewitness reporting is the best, being able to report what you see," said Luke Baker, Jerusalem bureau chief for Reuters between 2014-2017. Experienced journalists are also more apt to know sources they can depend upon for truthful information, he said. OIC calls for immediate end to Israeli aggression against civilians in Gaza In the aftermath of the al-Ahli hospital explosion, journalists were left to sift through the competing finger-pointing over which side was to blame. "The truth does matter," Rachel Maddow said on MSNBC's overage. "It's the only thing we have here." In past Gaza conflicts, the Internet was a useful source of information and videos. But the spread of disinformation online this time has made it much less reliable, and verifying material that can be trusted is enormously time-consuming, Chetwynd said. As the story moves forward, news organizations are looking for ways to compensate for the barriers faced by journalists in Gaza. The AP, for example, has assigned a team of Arabic-speaking journalists to conduct interviews and monitor online activity. For those left in Gaza, Pace said there's a concern about when supplies are going to run out without reinforcements, including power. "It's not constant and it's not reliable," she said. CPJ's Mansour said that he hopes the United Nations keeps the welfare of journalists on its agenda, including safe passage out of the country for those who need it. "The people who live in this place didn't make the decision to live in a war zone," Chetwynd said.

Bangladesh's star batsman, Litton Das, has expressed his regret via social media following an incident where he had journalists from Bangladesh removed from the team hotel in Pune, India. On Sunday (October 15, 2023), when the Bangladesh team had no scheduled practice or media interactions, journalists visited the team hotel. Litton did not welcome the idea. He summoned the hotel's security personnel and instructed them to escort the journalists away. World Cup 2023: England outplayed as Afghanistan script historic win in Delhi This incident ignited debate and discussion among Bangladeshi journalists covering the ICC World Cup in India. Some reporters questioned Litton's professionalism in their reports aired on television or shared on social media platforms. "https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php? Within 24 hours of the incident, Litton extended an apology. World Cup 2023: England struggling in pursuit of 285 v Afghanistan "I deeply regret the unforeseen incident that occurred yesterday at the team hotel," Litton posted. "I hold the media in high regard. The indispensable role of journalists in advancing Bangladesh cricket is acknowledged and appreciated." The Bangladesh team has participated in three matches in the ICC World Cup 2023 so far, securing a victory in one. In the upcoming match, Bangladesh will face India on October 19. World Cup 2023: Rahmanullah, Ikram Lead Afghanistan to 284 Against England

French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy has dismissed the claim of a section that ten senior journalists’ visa requests have been refused. The ambassador described the claim as a "lie and disinformation." French Ambassador Marie Masdupuy visits Cosmos Atelier 71 “Sport is essential in life. Some play football, some tennis, others badminton or squash. @ABhuttow’s daily sport is lie and #Disinformation. His latest record can be watched hereunder,” the French ambassador replied to a comment on X (formerly Twitter). An individual named Abdur Rab Bhuttow claimed that 10 “pro-government” senior journalists were refused visa to travel to France.  Boosting cooperation with Bangladesh on political, economic, climate fronts priorities for France: Ambassador Marie Masdupuy Talking to UNB, the French ambassador said this is “totally false.” The journalists did not apply in time, for visa, for an event they were planning to attend, said an official. They will get their visas, though the event will already have taken place, said the official.

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (July 10, 2023) asked the media to do constructive criticism for the welfare of the country, not for damaging it. "The criticism should be for the welfare of the country and not for damaging it,"  she said while addressing a function at her office here in the city. In the function, the premier distributed cheques of financial assistance to the families of dead, sick, insolvent and injured journalists. This year some Tk 3.46 crore were given against 438 journalists as financial assistance from Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust (BJWT) Fund. Read more: Fast-evolving tech may pose ‘unprecedented crises’ if journalists aren’t prepared: World Journalists Conference Hasina said the Awami League government has ensured freedom of media in the last 14 years. "None had ever enjoyed so much freedom in the past," she said. The PM asked the media to do criticism as much as required to correct the government but not to hamper the ongoing progress of the country. "We don't want that the progress of Bangladesh ti be hampered," she said. She said the media will have to have the sense of responsibility and dutifulness towards the country and the nation while they enjoy freedom. The BJWT fund was formed in 2014 with the seed money of Tk 25 crore provided by the prime minister on two occasions. Read more: Assault on on-duty journalists an unpardonable crime: GM Quader So far some Tk 40 crore was distributed among 13,510 journalists from the fund. Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud presided over the function, while Information Secretary Humayun Kabir Khandaker spoke on the occasion.  The Prime Minister said her government allowed private sector to run television channels when she came  to power in 1996 and then gave licenses of many television channels to generate employment. She said her government is going to bring the private television channels under a wage board. She called upon the media owners to donate money to the Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust. Sheikh Hasina said her government can take arrangements so that the journalists can buy lands or flats making payment in installments. She said they have taken housing projects to bring landless people under the scheme free of costs following the footsteps of the Father of the Nation. Taking a swipe at critics of quick rental power plants, she said how could Bangladesh witness so much development unless Tk 90,000 crore was not given to the quick rental power plants. The BJWT fund was formed in 2014 with the seed money of Tk 25 crore provided by the prime minister on two occasions. So far some Tk 40 crore was distributed among 13,510 journalists from the fund. Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud presided over the function, while Information Secretary Humayun Kabir Khandaker spoke on the occasion.

President of Journalists Association of Korea (JAK) Kim Dong Hoon has said science and digital technology are evolving faster than ever and journalism may face “unprecedented crises” if they do not prepare for the future. “This is why we must reflect on issues and develop solutions now,” he said while speaking on the first day of the five-day World Journalists Conference-2023 that began in Seoul on Tuesday, seeking collaborative efforts for a brighter future for journalism globally. Kim said although participants from around the world have different nationalities, races, genders, and ideas, they all share the same identity as journalists who strive for truth, freedom and peace with sharp reasoning and warm hearts. “We now live in an era where we can access the news and information we need anytime, anywhere with a single smartphone. Things that were unimaginable just a few years ago have become a reality,” he said. Under the topic of “The Challenge of Journalism for Regional Development”, journalists discussed solution case studies that examine local community issues and propose solutions.    

Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader MP strongly condemned the police attack on journalists during the Supreme Court Bar Association elections, and demanded exemplary punishment for those involved in the incident. “Assault on media workers while performing their professional duties is an unforgivable crime,” he said in a statement. Expressing anger over the incident, the Jatiya Party chief also said any attack on innocent journalists while collecting news cannot be accepted in a civilised society. GM Quader deplored that journalists in the country already cannot work independently. “Self-censorship has increased in the country's media due to various repressive laws.” He said the country's media outlets are trying their best to keep the flow of information amid various adversities. “It’s not possible to maintain democracy without full freedom of the press. So, everyone should play a responsible role in flourishing media for the sake of democracy. “All sorts of the safety of media workers should be ensured.” At least 10 journalists were injured as police charged batons on them on the Supreme Court premises amid a scuffle between pro-Awami League and pro-BNP lawyers over the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) election on Wednesday. Police attacked journalists when they were taking photos and videos of police action on the pro-BNP lawyers as they engaged in a brawl with the pro-Awami League lawyers during their demonstration demanding the formation of a fresh election conducting committee under an "acceptable" authority.

At least 10  journalists and lawyers were injured as police charged batons on them on the Supreme Court premises amid scuffle between pro-Awami League and pro BNP lawyers over the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) election on Wednesday. The two-day voting in SCBA election started around 10 am but it was suspended immediately when some pro-BNP lawyers staged demonstrations demanding formation of election conducting committee led by a neutral person. When the situation turned chaotic, police charged batons on the lawyers and journalists, leaving 10 people injured, said Barrister Kaisar Kamal, BNP law affairs secretary. Barrister Kaisar Kamal said, “Police charged baton on some lawyers including Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon and Ruhul Kuddus Kajal. We have informed it to the Chief Justice.” Jabed Akter, reporter of ATN News, Ibrahim Hossain, cameraperson of Boishakhi TV, Abdullah Al Maruf, multimedia reporters of Manabjamin, Humayun Kabir, cameraperson of  ATN Bangla, Solaiman Swapan, cameraman Somoy TV, Mehedi Hasan, cameraman DBC, Fazlul Haque, reporter of Jago News and SM Nur Mohammad, reporter of Ajker Patrika were among the injured. Of them, Jabed Akter was taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. A seven-member sub-committee led by senior lawyer Mansurul Haque Chowdhury, was formed earlier for conducting the election. But he resigned from the post on personal ground on March 13. Read more: Supreme Court Bar Association election underway Later, pro-Awami League Ainjibi Parishad formed a sub-committee led by freedom fighter Maniruzzaman while the pro-BNP Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Oikya Panel formed another committee headed by ASM Moktar Kabir. Besides, miscreants tore down 3000 ballot papers sometime on Tuesday night. A tense situation has been prevailing in the Supreme Court area over the issue.