At least 30 journalists came under attack, while the vehicles and equipment of some of them were vandalised during a clash between the supporters of the main opposition Bangladeshi Nationalist Party and the police in the capital’s Naya Paltan area on Saturday.

The clash between the protesters and police began about 11:30am before the BNP started its scheduled grand rally in front of its party office at Naya Paltan, during which journalists were also injured.

Different journalist organisations and platforms condemned the attacks on their fellows.

The Dhaka Reporters Unity in their statement condemned the attacks on and torture of 30 journalists and also snatching of their mobile phones and valuables and damaging of their cameras and other equipment.

The DRU leadership said that such attacks are never acceptable and against the press freedom.

Protesters at Rajmoni crossing intercepted Mohammad Ali Mazed, AFP video journalist and an executive committee member of the Bangladeshi Journalists in International Media, beating him up with sticks, while he was heading towards Kakrail intersection during the clash.

The protestors also broke his camera.

Later, the BJIM in a statement said that it strongly condemns the brutal attacks on at least 19 on-duty journalists, including two of its cofounders, as major political parties staged rallies in the capital within very risky proximities on Saturday.

Brick chips were hurled at Sazzad Hossain, a freelance photographer for international media and a BJIM member. He was also stampeded allegedly by BNP activists.

New Age journalist Ahammad Foyez, Bangla Tribune’s Salman Tarek Shakil, Daily Kalbela’s Rafsan Jani, and Share Biz’s Hamidur Rahman, among others, sustained injuries.

Rafsan Jani was badly beaten and taken to hospital.

Daily Inqilab’s FA Masum told New Age that he was taking photos when two processions of BNP and ruling Awami League were about to face off in a confrontation at the time of which someone dragged him from back and started beating near the AL procession.

Masum said he could not recognise any of the attackers. A car of Jamuna Television was vandalised in Kakrail, while a

microbus of Maasranga Television carrying Noor Un Nahar Weely was attacked at Shahjahanpur in the evening.

Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists in their statement also alleged that journalists were targeted when they were filming or photographing acts of vandalism and arson during the programmes of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.