Sports journalists hold human chain demanding justice for students-people

Sports journalists organised a human chain at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur today, demanding justice for the atrocities committed against students and the masses in the ongoing protests and for a society free of discrimination.

Over 100 sports journalists from various organisations gathered in front of gate No.1 of the Mirpur stadium at 12:00 PM. After holding the human chain, they observed a minute's silence to pay respect to the people who lost their lives in the protests.

Kaler Kantho's sports editor ATM Sayeeduzzaman said, "I don't have the words to convey my sorrow for what happened in the month of July and is still going on right now. I'm not here just as a sports journalist, I'm here as a free citizen of an independent country. I'm devastated, I'm grieving.

"We should have raised our voices much earlier. We have to stop this brutality at any cost. Those in charge didn't do it. I don't know how many years we will have to carry the burden of the events that have happened. I want a fair investigation for every incident, not an eye-wash.

"The rights we are entitled to as free citizens of an independent country can't be withheld. This country belongs to all of us, it doesn't belong to any individual. We didn't witness the Liberation War but are proud of our current struggle for freedom. This doesn't belong to any individual, the time has come for us to realise that. I don't want quantity, I want a quality life. A life where I can go to my office from home, my kids can go to school and my ageing parents can get quality healthcare."

Channel 24's special correspondent Rizwan Uz Zaman said, "I want justice for every killing. We only have one demand, we want the establishment of justice. We feel that if people from every sphere join in with the same demand, it will get fulfilled."

Veteran sports journalist Shamim Chowdhury, who is currently employed at Newsg24, spoke about the journalists who lost their lives covering the movement, saying, "We still don't know the accurate death toll of this movement. We have heard different numbers from different mediums. Five journalists have died on duty. We, the sports journalists, pray for their departed souls. They were our colleagues, our first demand will be a fair and credible trial for every death."

Senior sports journalist Noman Mohammad said, "We are here out of a sense of responsibility. I saw a UNICEF report that said 32 children were killed. Those children could've been yours or mine, they could've been any of ours. Then who are we preparing this country for? For whom are we trying to build this country? For the next generation.

"If they are not safe in this country, then who is safe? That's why we, the sports reporters, have taken a stance here today with one demand – we want an end to the brutal acts against students and the masses and the atrocities that have been happened in the last two weeks. We want the assurance of a natural death."