Expressing serious concern over the murder of another journalist in Bangladesh, the global media safety and rights body Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) urged the authorities to punish the culprits and adequately compensate the victim’s family. Senior journalist Swapan Kumar Bhadra, who worked for many Bengali newspapers like Dainik Swajan, Ajker Khabar and Khabar Patra, was hacked to death on 12 October 2024 by three miscreants in front of his residence at Majhipara in Mymensingh locality of the south Asian nation.

Currently, Bhadra (65) was not writing for any newspaper, but the former vice-president of Tarakanda Press Club remained active on social media where he highlighted various pertinent issues like terrorism, drug-menace and anti-social activities. The local police have already arrested a youth named Sagar Miyan and continued the search for the two others. The outspoken media person has left behind his wife, two sons and a daughter with other close relatives.

“Bangladesh adds another journalist to the list of journo-victims which has already reached 110 until now this year across the globe. We condemn the incident and urge the interim government head Prof Muhammad Yunus to take personal interest in delivering justice to the bereaved family as early as possible,” said Blaise Lempen, president of PEC (www.pressemblem.ch), adding that the populous country had recently lost five journalists to assailants in the anti-Sheikh Hasina government agitation.

PEC’s south Asia representative Nava Thakuria informed that Bangladesh witnessed the murder of six media persons namely Hasan Mehedi, Shakil Hossain, Abu Taher Md Turab, Tahir Zaman Priyo, Pradip Kumar Bhowmik and Tanjil Jahan Islam Tamim till date this year. Another south Asian nation Pakistan lost ten scribes namely Nisar Lehri, Muhammad Bachal Ghunio, Malik Hassan Zaib, Khalil Afridi Jibran, Nasrullah Gadani, Kamran Dawar, Mehar Ashfaq Siyal, Maulana Mohammad Siddique Mengal, Jam Saghir Ahmad Lar and Tahira Nosheen Rana to assailansts since 1 January.