JULY 6, 2005
Posted: July 18, 2005
Rafiqul Islam, Amar Desh
ATTACKED
Rafiqul, a correspondent for the daily in the northwestern town of Rajshahi, was assaulted by a group of men he identified to local reporters as activists of the ruling party’s student wing, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD). As many as 10 attackers entered the Durgapur Press Club, where the journalist serves as president, at 10:30 a.m., according to local sources. Rafiqul was hospitalized in Durgapur Health Center and suffered back pain and breathing problems, according to local sources.
The week before he was attacked, Rafiqul filed a complaint with local police about repeated threats from members of JCD, according to local news reports. The activists warned Rafiqul to be careful after he reported on alleged extortion by JCD cadres.
No arrests were immediately made in the July 6 attack, and Rafiqul told local sources that a JCD cadre went to the hospital to warn him against filing charges.