Three Journalist Bodies Demand Punishment After Police Attack on Reporters at National Stadium After SAFF Match

Three organisations of sports journalists in Bangladesh have strongly condemned and protested an alleged police attack on sports reporters who were on duty in the mixed zone of the National Stadium after the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka match in the SAFF Championship.

The Bangladesh Sports Press Association (BSPA), the Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association (BSJA) and the Bangladesh Sports Journalists Community (BSJC) demanded that the police members involved in the attack be identified and given exemplary punishment, and that the safety of sports journalists at their workplace be ensured.

The three organisations made the demands in a joint letter of protest sent on Thursday to Md Aminul Haque, state minister for youth and sports.

The letter said that on Wednesday, after the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka match ended, journalists including Ekattor Television senior reporter Nahian Bin Jasim and sports reporter Hasan Sajib were performing their professional duties in the designated mixed zone of the National Stadium. Police members on duty obstructed their work.

Even after the journalists showed their identities and accreditation cards, the situation did not improve. At one stage, 20 to 25 police members attacked them, the organisations alleged.

Ekattor Television sports reporter Hasan Sajib was seriously injured in the incident. He was hurt in the leg and bled from the ear. The same channel's cameraperson KM Mizan's elbow was bloodied and his camera was vandalised. Senior reporter Nahian Bin Jasim was also physically assaulted.

The joint letter made three demands. First, a committee must be formed for an impartial investigation to identify the police members involved, and departmental and legal action must be taken against them. Second, the negligence of SAFF and the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) in performing their duties, and the mismanagement and lack of coordination in organising the tournament, must be investigated. Third, permanent and effective measures must be ensured so journalists can perform their duties safely at all stadiums and sports venues in the country.

The letter also said the SAFF Championship is organised by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF). Its appointed event management firm is TSA Sports and Entertainment, and the BFF is working as an associate. Alongside mismanagement and lack of coordination in various areas of the event, the three organisations also alleged discriminatory treatment of media workers.

The joint letter was signed by BSPA general secretary Sudipta Ahmad Anand, BSJA general secretary SM Suman and BSJC general secretary Shafiqul Islam Shamim. They sought the intervention of the state minister for youth and sports to consider the matter seriously and take prompt, effective steps.