At least 17 journalists injured covering recent protests: CPJ

At least 17 journalists were injured while covering the recent protests in the country, according to Committee to Protect Journalists.

According to the data shared with CPJ, the majority of the injured journalists were photographers.

CPJ said in a statement on Monday, "Bangladesh police must ensure that officers do not harm members of the press covering protests, and should investigate attacks on journalists by demonstrators and police officers."

"Police in Bangladesh must immediately end their outrageous attacks on journalists covering protests, and should protect them from abuse rather than inflicting it themselves," said Steven Butler, CPJ's Asia program coordinator, adding, "These blatant attacks on press freedom undermine a key pillar of the country's democracy."

On March 25 and 26, members of the Chhatra League, the youth wing of the ruling Awami League, attacked people demonstrating against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Bangladesh, and used sticks to beat journalists covering the protests, according to news reports.

On 26 March, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets into an anti-Modi protest, hitting and injuring journalists covering the demonstrations.

At least 10 people were killed over those two days of protests and 17 journalists were injured by police or demonstrators, according to data shared with CPJ by the Drik Picture Library, a local advocacy group and multimedia services provider.

Demonstrators and police officers hit journalists with the butt of a pistol, sticks, iron rods, stones, and bricks, and journalists were shot with rubber bullets, according to that data, which stated that they sustained injuries including bruises, swelling, bleeding, broken bones, a dislocated shoulder, and a cracked skull.

Reportedly, access to Facebook was also blocked during the demonstrations.