In Savar, the agitators attacked the press clubs with vandalism and arson. They also tried to pick up ATN News journalist Zahid Hasan Sakil while recording the video.
Savar and Ashulia Press Clubs were attacked on Sunday (August 4) afternoon The Ashulia Press Club located along the Nabinagar-Chandra highway in Bypile area of Ashulia was vandalized around 5 pm. Meanwhile, the protesters took out some goods of the press club and set fire on the road. Later, when the agitators advanced towards the Ashulia police station located in the same area, the police dispersed them.
Earlier, around 4:30 pm, the agitators tried to pick up ATN News journalist Zahid Hasan Sakil in Bypile area of Ashulia. The present journalists and locals rescued him from the hands of the agitators and took him to safety.
Bypile protesters vandalized motorcycles on the road and set them on fire. After that they started pelting stones at a hospital in Bypile. They also vandalized the gate of the hospital and tried to enter inside. ATN News staff reporter Zahid Hasan Sakil tried to capture the video of this incident. Later, when the agitators sensed it, they started dragging him. Seeing the incident, some other journalists and locals went ahead and rescued him. Zahid Hasan Sakil had his press ID card hanging around his neck, but the agitators misbehaved with him, he said.
Earlier, the agitators attacked Savar Press Club in Savar Thana Road area around 3:30 pm. Meanwhile, some journalists were trapped inside the Savar Press Club. Among them, Avi Khairul Islam, staff reporter of Daily Ajker Satya Prakash, was injured.
Journalists of various media working in Savar have expressed their concern over the news of journalists being attacked in different places of Savar.
Savar's DBC TV journalist Shafi Mahmud Chowdhury said, we have been banned from taking footage. Even when the agitators are asked to talk on their mobile phones, they are interrogating whether they are making videos on their mobile phones. Savar and Ashulia two press clubs were vandalized. We are appalled by such treatment of journalists.
Shamsuzzaman Shams, journalist of Prothom Alo of Savar, said that a journalist works impartially. Bringing out the actual information from the scene, he presented the matter in the light of the evidence in the media. In doing this one has to work at the risk of life. Everyone's cooperation is needed here. It is very unfortunate if the collection of information is blocked without cooperation.