Some 20 journalists were attacked, intimidated, harassed, or arrested for reporting on pilferage, corruption, and lack of accountability in food aid meant for the poor during the lockdown, noted Forum for Freedom of Expression, Bangladesh. The network of media rights defenders expressed concern at the attacks on freedom of expression, in a statement circulated to the media yesterday. Two days after this incident, Thakurgaon police assaulted the district correspondent of Bangladesh Pratidin and private TV channel News 24 at a checkpost. On April 15, Thakurgaon police also sued a district correspondent of Dainik Odhikar under the security act for criticising the district administration on Facebook, noted the statement. "Baten Biplob in his Facebook post described the barbaric attack on journalist Sajal Bhuiyan who was profusely bleeding and crying in pain.

Source: bd News24 April 28, 2020 18:10 UTC