Journalists become targets of clashing traders, students at Dhaka New Market area

At least seven newsmen, including The Daily Star's photojournalist, were attacked and injured while performing their duties during the clash between shop employees and Dhaka College students in New Market area.

The identified injured journalists are: Deepto TV's senior reporter Asif Zaman and cameraperson Imran Lipu, The Daily Star's photographer Prabir Das, Ajker Patrika's reporter Al Amin Razu, SA TV's reporter Taifur Rahman Tuhin and cameraperson Kabir Hossain and online news portal Dhaka Post's Senior Reporter Jasim Uddin Mahir.

The injured journalists said both the students and shop employees beat them up whenever they tried to take photographs and video of the clash.

At least four of the injured journalists received treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Injured Asif Zaman said that they came under attack when they were covering the event near Gausia Market.

"We were preparing to go live. At that time, some traders and shop employees started beating up our cameraperson. As I tried to save him, they beat me with an iron road and stick," he said.

Asif needed four stitches on his head.

Like Asif and the Deepto TV cameraperson, several other journalists were beaten up by the shop employees at the New Market end.

On the other hand, a journalist who were covering the clash near Dhaka College end came under attack from college students.

"A group of students pushed me to the ground and beat me up when I was taking photos near Dhaka College," said The Daily Star's photojournalist Prabir Das.

The students threatened him and told him to leave immediately.