The Court Reporters Unity (CRU) and the Law Reporters Forum have strongly condemned the assault on journalist Asif Mohammad Siam of Somoy TV, which occurred inside a Dhaka courtroom in front of a sitting magistrate. Both organizations have demanded immediate legal action against the lawyers involved in the attack.
The incident took place on Thursday (September 4) in the courtroom of Metropolitan Magistrate Hasib Ullash Piyas at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s (CMM) Court in Dhaka. Journalist Siam was covering a bail hearing in an anti-terrorism case involving journalist Manjurul Ahsan Panna when the assault occurred.
According to eyewitnesses, during the hearing, Moktadir Rashid, a journalist from the international media outlet Bangla Outlook, asked accused Panna whether he had been subjected to torture while in custody. Advocate Mohiuddin Mahi, who was seated on the bench, objected and questioned why the journalist was speaking to the accused.
As the argument escalated, Asif Mohammad Siam intervened, clarifying that Moktadir was not an outsider but a professional journalist. This led to Advocate Mohiuddin jumping from the bench and punching Siam in the ear. Several other lawyers aligned with Mohiuddin joined in, beating Siam with punches and kicks, leaving him seriously injured. Siam later received emergency medical treatment.
In a joint statement, CRU President Liton Mahmud and General Secretary Mamun Khan expressed grave concern over the incident, stating:
“Such a disgraceful attack on a journalist in front of a magistrate inside a courtroom is not only an assault on an individual but a deliberate attempt to intimidate and humiliate the entire journalistic community. This is a direct violation of press freedom and the constitutional right to gather news.”
CRU called for the immediate identification and prosecution of those involved and urged the court administration and law enforcement to ensure the safety of journalists working in and around the court premises.
The Law Reporters Forum echoed the CRU’s concerns. In a statement, President Hasan Javed and General Secretary Moniruzzaman Mission said:
“This incident seriously undermines the dignity of the judiciary and raises concerns about the safety of journalists. Without exemplary punishment for the perpetrators, such attacks may continue.”
