Facebook Live Footage Captures Police Assault on Journalists During Eviction Drive
Two journalists were allegedly subjected to a brutal assault by on-duty police personnel while livestreaming on Facebook during an eviction drive in the Baunia Embankment area of Kalshi in Mirpur, Dhaka.
The two media professionals who came under attack were Nehal Ahmed Pranto of Bangladesh Pratidin and Tasbir Iqbal of Bangladesh Times.
The incident took place at around 5:00 pm on Wednesday, May 20, during an eviction operation conducted by the Housing and Public Works Authority.
According to eyewitness sources, police officers became agitated when journalists questioned the sudden eviction drive and the demolition of houses with bulldozers without prior notice. While the Facebook Live broadcast was ongoing, journalist Pranto was allegedly physically assaulted. When fellow journalist Tasbir Iqbal stepped forward to assist him, police personnel reportedly attacked both journalists simultaneously, severely beating them and attempting to seize their digital devices and cameras.
The incident occurred while journalists were covering clashes between local residents and the administration surrounding the eviction drive. The alleged assault on journalists in front of top officials has sparked widespread outrage.
After videos of the livestreamed harassment spread across social media, media professionals and ordinary citizens connected through digital platforms strongly condemned the incident and demanded punishment for the police personnel involved.
DBTech/DMN/MUM/OR
