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A journalist was injured after being physically assaulted by activists from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami during an altercation in Dhaka. Mahfuzur Rahman Shishir, a reporter for the daily Sokal, was attacked in Dhanmondi 32 on Tuesday morning.

Witnesses reported that the incident followed a procession organized by Jamaat-e-Islami's Dhanmondi Zone. A dispute arose between Jamaat activists and journalists during a press briefing after the procession. Some activists allegedly accused a journalist of supporting the Awami League, leading to an argument that escalated into violence.

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It is shameful that Jamaat men attacked a journalist and injured me. You [Jamaat-e-Islami] speak about media freedom. Does grabbing a journalist by the collar and attacking him represent freedom of the press?

Activists reportedly grabbed Shishir by the collar, punched him, and kicked him as he fell to the ground. Fellow journalists intervened to rescue him and took him to a private hospital for treatment. Shishir condemned the attack, questioning how such actions align with freedom of the press.

Abdus Sattar Sumon, an assistant secretary for publicity affairs for Jamaat-e-Islami's Dhaka South city unit, called the incident "unfortunate." He stated that the party does not condone misconduct towards journalists and pledged to identify those responsible through available footage, promising organizational action and an investigation into potential outsider involvement.

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We do not support any form of misconduct towards journalists. We will identify those involved through footage and take organisational action against them. We will also investigate whether any outsiders were involved.