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Geneva: The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), a global media safety and rights organization, has expressed shock and grief over the killing of Hasan Mehedi, a young reporter in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka. Mehedi, 35, worked for the Bangla digital media outlet Dhaka Times and was killed while covering clashes between police forces and protesting students in the Jatrabari area during nationwide demonstrations against the job-quota system.
The incident occurred on Thursday, July 18, and Dhaka Times management confirmed that Hasan died from a bullet injury to his head. Hasan Mehedi is the 72nd journalist killed worldwide since January 1 this year.
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“We demand a fair probe into the incident that led to the killing of Hasan Mehedi in Dhaka. As the country faces intense anti-reservation protests that have already claimed nearly 40 lives, authorities must take precautions to safeguard media personnel. Journalists in Bangladesh continue to work under adverse conditions due to recent laws formulated by Dhaka. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina must address this issue seriously and ensure adequate compensation for the bereaved family as soon as possible,” stated Blaise Lempen, president of PEC.
PEC’s South Asia representative, Nava Thakuria, reported that many Bangla media outlets have remained unresponsive since Thursday amid the massive student protests. Hasan Mehedi is the first journalist killed in Bangladesh this year. Neighboring Myanmar lost one journalist, Ko Myat Thu Tun, to military atrocities during this period. In India, two journalists, Shivshankar Jha and Ashutosh Shrivastava, were killed. Pakistan witnessed the killing of eight journalists—Hassan Zaib, Khalil Afridi Jibran, Nasrullah Gadani, Kamran Dawar, Mehar Ashfaq Siyal, Maulana Mohammad Siddique Mengal, Jam Saghir Ahmad Lar, and Tahira Nosheen Rana.
The PEC calls for immediate action to protect journalists and ensure their safety amidst ongoing unrest in the region.
