The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is mourning the death of Sheikh Belaluddin Ahmed, who died six days after he was critically wounded in a bomb blast outside the Khulna Press Club in southwest Bangladesh.
Ahmed, bureau chief of daily Sangram, was walking out of the press club on the night of 5 February when a bomb that was attached to his motorcycle exploded, injuring him and three other journalists in the blast.
"We are extremely saddened to hear of his death, and demand that full measures be taken to improve the safety of all journalists in the region," said IFJ President Christopher Warren today.
Five journalists have already been killed in the Khulna district in the last 10 years, a large number of these through targeted bomb attacks.
"There needs to be a thorough investigation, with those responsible immediately bought to justice, in order to send a clear message that these sorts of cowardly attacks are not acceptable," said the President of the IFJ, a global organisation representing more than 500,000 journalists worldwide.
A Maoist extremist group Purba Bangla Communist Party (PBCP) claimed responsibility for the attack in a letter signed by the group's regional leader, Sayeed Hasan Suman. The letter, left in the mailbox of the Khulna-based daily Purbanchal, threatened more journalists with similar fates.
The police say that they have already arrested eight suspects, but have given no further details.
Local journalists strongly protested against the bombings. On 8 February, a news blackout was observed and journalists formed a human chain at the press club, while across the country journalists took to the streets to condemn the attack.
"The international community must rally behind the local journalism community, which is demanding that these brutal attacks stop and a free and independent press be restored," Warren said.
For further information contact Christopher Warren on +61 (0) 411 757 668.
The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries
Click here to view the media release online: http://www.ifj-asia.org/page/bangladesh050215.html
