Bangladeshi origin journalist were under attack at the Bangladesh ruling party press conference in New York yesterday. Farid Alam, a journalist of New York based TV network NCN (News Communication Network), was attacked by the leaders and activists of the ruling party for questioning about the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The journalist is undergoing treatment at a hospital in queens.
At the press conference, journalist Farid Alam asked- why is the Bangladesh Prime Minister visiting with a 141 members delegation in this Pandemic while other country’s delegations are very short and many heads of the country are participating virtually; what is the outcome of the visit?
In response to such a question, the leaders of the ruling Awami League did not answer but burst into anger and attacked journalist Farid Alam. According to witnesses he was surrounded from all sides. Other journalists present at the time tried to save him from the attack.
Press and Publication Secretary of ruling Awami League and member of the visiting Prime Minister’s official delegation Abdus Sobhan Golap was answering questions at the press conference held at Queen's Palace in New York.
When journalist Farid Alam asked the question, at one stage, leaders and activists of AL present there rushed towards him. They created an atmosphere of panic in the Queen's Palace by carrying out a sudden attack on the journalist.
Such attacks on journalists are unprecedented in the United States. The incident has shocked the expatriates and the journalist community has condemned the matter.
About the attack, Farid Alam said, “Everyone surrounded me. They tried to snatch the phone and later tried to snatch the phone twice. When I was surrounded, I noticed two people snatched my wallet. My ID card, money and essential things were in it.”
He further said, “They attacked me jumping from behind, punching, pushing, and did whatever they could. It is a matter of sorrow that the leaders sitting on the stage didn’t forbid their party men to do this rather encouraging . My fellow journalists at present at the press conference cooperated with me at this time.”
CL/
