Journos caught up in Dhaka violence

Bombs were lobbed from a procession of Swechchasebak Dal in Dhaka’s Bongshal on the first day of the nationwide 60-hour shutdown enforced by BNP-led 18-Party opposition alliance.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 4 Nov 2013, 05:53 AM
Updated : 4 Nov 2013, 05:53 AM

But when journalists rushed to cover the explosions, they were beaten up by Sramik League (Awami League's labour front) activists who were manning a side of the street to keep strikers at bay.

Police rescued the journalists, said Bongshal Police Station SI Khoda Newaz.

Private television channel ATN Bangla senior cameraperson Kabirul Islam Pintu told bdnews24.com the Swechchasebak Dal exploded several hand bombs from the procession around 9am on Monday.

Journalists from ATN Bangla, NTV, Bangla Vision, Channel i and Daily Janakantha rushed to cover the explosions, he said.

Sramik League activists who were positioned on one side of the road chased away the supporters of Swechchasebak Dal and then pounced on the journalists.

They beat up some TV channel reporters blaming the explosions on their presence.

SI Khoda Newaz said police rescued crew of ATN Bangla, NTV and Channel I immediately.