11 foreign missions express concern over murder of journalist Nadeem

CHT DESK

Eleven embassies and high commissions, as members of the Media Freedom Coalition in Bangladesh, on Thursday expressed concern over the deadly attack on journalist Golam Rabbani Nadeem in Jamalpur and called for the need to hold all those responsible for attacks on journalists.

‘We, the undersigned members of the Media Freedom Coalition in Bangladesh, are deeply concerned at the deadly June 15 attack on Golam Rabbani Nadeem, the Jamalpur district correspondent of BanglaNews24.com and the Bakshiganj upazila correspondent of Ekattor TV,’ said a statement .

Signed by the embassies and high commissions of Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands, United Kingdom, and United States, the statement mentioned that journalists play a vital role in asking difficult questions, reporting the facts, and promoting the free flow of ideas.

‘We offer our sincerest condolences to his family and friends.  We are encouraged to learn that authorities have taken action by arresting the suspected perpetrators of the killing and by initiating legal proceedings,’ it said. 

The Media Freedom Coalition called on ‘all in positions of influence in Bangladeshi society to speak up for press freedom, the right of journalists to work without fear of retribution or harm, and the need to hold to account those responsible for attacks on journalists’.

Following an attack by unidentified assailants on 15 June, a severely injured Nadeem succumbed to his injuries at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital the next day.

Nadeem’s family alleged that he had been getting threats from Mahamudul Alam Babu, a local chairman, for publishing reports related to corruption.

Meanwhile, five people, including the main accused, Mahmudul Alam Babu, have been detained by law enforcers for their alleged involvement in the murder.