Bangladeshi Local Newspaper Editor Chopped with Machete’s in front of Police

Amar Desh acting Editor Mahmudur Rahman was attacked right in front of the local law enforcement on the premises of the Kushtia court, allegedly by Bangladesh Chhatra League activists, on July 22nd 2018 in broad daylight.

Since the restoration of civilian government and the Awami League victory in 2008, Rahman has been a strong critic of the government through his newspaper. Party and government officials have reacted by charging him with defamation and sedition cases more than 50 times since 2009 to 2013.

The vehicle transporting him was also vandalized by the attackers. Mahmudur, initially, could not exit the court premises as he was surrounded by ruling Awami League student activists. Slogan-shouting Chhatra League activists took their positions on the court premises while the judge heard the case.

Mahmudur was in Kushtia, Khulna to secure bail in a defamation case that accused him of making false statements about the current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and her niece, Tulip Siddiq.

Bangla daily Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman sustained injuries in the head and face as a group of activists of ruling Awami League backed student organisation, Bangladesh Chhatra League, allegedly attacked him with machete’s while he was attempting to run for his car parked right in front of the court premises.

His lawyers then came to the rescue of Mahmudur and took him to a lawyer’s chamber which also came under attack. ‘He was bleeding from the back of his head (where he took a single blow from a machete) and face and we could not take him to hospital in fear of more attacks.’ stated one of his lawyers.

The incident took place when Mahmudur exited the court. The Amar Desh editor, and his companions, later left for Dhaka in an ambulance.