CPJ concerned at harassment of journalists

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has expressed concern over reported assault, detention and harassment of journalists by security forces while enforcing curfew in Dhaka and five other divisional cities.
The New York-based organisation in a statement on its website on Thursday said it is deeply concerned about warnings to the media from members of the military-backed interim government, which have resulted in widespread self-censorship, particularly among broadcast outlets.
"Journalists must be free to report independently on the unfolding political crisis, without interference from security forces and without fear of retribution from the government," the CPJ's Executive Director Joel Simon said.
"The interim government so far has maintained that it is not imposing direct censorship, but it is clearly taking steps to control media coverage," he added.
The statement said the government slapped the indefinite curfew to quell "the scene of violent clashes between police and students who were calling for an end to the emergency rule".
Citing local news reports and its own sources, the CPJ said though officials had provided assurances that the media could operate freely during curfew hours without carrying special passes, dozens of journalists were assaulted and detained by members of the security forces in the course of their reporting.
Among those reportedly assaulted on Wednesday and Thursday, the CPJ said, are Anis Alamgir, head of the news department at Baishakhi TV, Kamrul Hasan Khan, a correspondent for The Daily Star, Bhorer Kagoj reporters Kazi Saifuddin Avi and Rashed Ali, Amar Desh reporter Nesar Ahmed, daily Korotoa reporter Sabbir Mahmud, UNB's Jahangir Alam, daily Dinkal photographer Babul Talukder, the New Age photographer Sanaul Haque, Bangladesh Today reporter Ainul Haque Royal and photographer Babu.
The Shamokal reported 14 of its journalists being beaten up by members of the security forces, it said.
The statement said though the Press Information Department issued a notice late on Thursday directing print and electronic media personnel to obtain special curfew passes from the metropolitan police, local journalists faced "an extreme shortage of passes available".
It also expressed concern about widespread self-censorship among local broadcast media following Wednesday's remarks by Law and Information Adviser Mainul Hosein in which he reminded journalists that emergency regulations were in force and urged the media to "play a responsible role".
As he did "request channels to stop televising footage of violence until further notice because this might instigate further violence, private television channels abruptly stopped carrying reports about the street demonstrations, suspending even the popular political discussion programs about the day's news".
On Thursday, two television channels -- Ekushey and CSB news network -- received a written notice from the Press Information Department warning them not to broadcast "provocative" news.
According to its own sources, the CPJ said, journalists from print and broadcast media outlets also have been receiving telephone calls, instructing them to exercise greater caution in their reporting.
Simon said, "The political crisis will only be exacerbated by attempts to suppress news and opinion".
"This government must not abuse the extraordinary powers it has under the state of emergency to keep the public in the dark", he maintained.