3 June 2005

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is appalled to hear of the latest journalist killing in Bangladesh.

Golam Mahfuz, 39, editor of Comilla Muktakantha daily newspaper was stabbed to death early on Monday May 31, 2005 in his house in Comilla, a town 88km east of the capital Dhaka.

Police have detained four people for questioning, but are unclear on the motive behind the attack.

"We are trying to understand whether it happens for journalism or for any personal cause," said intelligence official Mozammel Haque.

The IFJ South Asia Press Freedom Report, Courage & Censorship released on May 3, reported Bangladesh as one of the world's most dangerous countries for journalists. In the past 12 months more than 400 journalists have received death threats, 320 journalists were tortured and Muhfuz's murder brings the death toll to five journalists. On average there was one death threat and incident of torture every day.

"Crimes like these further stifle the local media and quickly silence individual voices; these conditions are unacceptable, and a free democratic media will never flourish in these dire circumstances," said IFJ President Christopher Warren. Local journalists have told the IFJ they are under increasing threat for reporting on political violence, organised crime, religious fundamentalism and corruption. The IFJ is calling for a full investigation into the murder.

"We can't just let Mahfuz become another name on the list of murdered journalists. The perpetrators of this horrendous crime need to be tried and punished, and justice needs to be sought," said Warren.

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