PEC demands action against Bangladesh scribe killers Geneva

June 17: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the globalmedia safety and rights body, expresses concern over the police inactionto nab the killers of  Dhaka-based television journalist AbdulBari, who was found dead on the bank of Hatirjheel lake in Gulshan area of the capital city on 8 June. Journalist Bari (28), who wasassociated with private channel DBC as a news producer, faced severe stabs by miscreants on his stomach and neck. Hailing from Sirajganj Sadar, Bariearlier worked for Mohona Television.

“PEC is alarmed at sharp increase inthe number of journalists affected by violence this year, where Ukraineand Mexico emerge as the most dangerous countries in the globe sofar.  Since the beginning of
2022, at least 65 media workers have paidwith  lives for doing their job, which is a  worryingdevelopment,” said  Blaise Lempen, president of PEC (www.pressemblem.ch), adding that Bangladesh Prime Minister SheikhHasina should direct the concerned authorities to  punish the perpetratorsand adequately compensate the bereaved family.

Bari is the second journalist to be killed inBangladesh this year after the murder of Mohiuddin Sarker Nayeem in  Cumilla locality bysuspected drug dealers, said Nava Thakuria, PEC’s south Asia  representative. Bangladesh’s easternneighbour Myanmar witnessed the killing of one scribe (Pu Tui Dim) andits western giant neighbour  India lost four journalists (namelyRohit Kumar Biswal, Sudhir Saini, Juned Khan Pathan and Subhash KumarMahato) to assailants since 1 January 2022, he added.