Several journalists were allegedly attacked by members of the ruling party’s student affiliates on Sunday.
At least five journalists were severely injured in the attack at Dhaka’s Dhanmondi while covering the students’ protest demanding safer roads, which entered its eighth day,
Associated Press photojournalist AM Ahad, Daily Banik Barta photojournalist Palsah Shikder, online outlet bdmorning correspondent Abu Sufian Jewel, Daily Jankantha correspondent Jawad and Daily Prothom Alo photojournalist Sajid Hossain and reporter Ahmed Dipto have been severely injured.
Several freelance photographers, students of photography institution Pathshala, have been also attacked.
Witnesses said a group of five to six photojournalists covering the protests near the Dhaka City College at the Science Laboratory intersection were attacked by men armed with iron rods and sticks.
The journalists were dragged from the spot and severely assaulted.
The attackers broke AP photojournalist Ahad’s camera before hitting him on the head and the legs.
He has been taken to the nearby Lab Aid Hospital with severe injuries on the leg.
“I was taking pictures in front of the City College, when I saw Ahad was being beaten. They assaulted me when I went to save him,” said Banik Barta photojournalist Palash Shikder before adding that the attackers were activists of the Awami League’s student front.
“We came to know the attackers belonged to the ruling party. Most of them were wearing helmets,” said online outlet bdmorning’s correspondent Jewel.
Prothom Alo photojournalist Sajid Hossain, who was injured in the attack, identified the attackers as ruling party supporters.
A second group of journalists were attacked on Dhanmondi Road 2 near the Popular Diagnostic Centre, said witnesses.
A group of 15 to 20 men moved towards them from the Science Laboratory intersection and threw stones, brickbats to disperse them.
The attackers also vandalised a TV channel’s vehicle parked there.
The attacks happened in front of the law enforcers, who allegedly did not intervene.

Police said no such incident was reported.
“We did not get any complaint on the matter,” Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Ramna Zone Deputy Commissioner Maruf Hossain Sardar told the media.