A scuffle, assault and chaotic altercations broke out among several groups of journalists while performing their professional duties to collect SSC exam results at Viqarunnisa Noon School and College in the capital. The undesirable incident occurred on August 10 at around 12:00 PM inside the college auditorium/hallroom during news coverage, subsequently escalating into pushing, shoving, and chair-throwing. Multiple videos of the incident have already gone viral on social media.
According to Tofael Ahmed, a staff reporter for the weekly Ajkal, the incident began while Global Television reporter Abu Sayeed and Sobar Kotha reporter Mahfuz, along with several other journalists, were recording a candidate’s statement on camera in the hallroom. Srejan Ghanta, a digital reporter for The Business Standard (TBS), and video journalist Saidul Islam arrived at the venue and got into an altercation with several mobile journalists on site. When Tofael Ahmed intervened and brought the dispute to the attention of TBS reporter Srejan, Srejan attempted to withdraw Saidul from the scene.
Efforts were then made to diffuse Tofael’s aggression and prevent any further disruption on the school premises. Srejan reassured Tofael that they could address the matter peacefully outside the school grounds once work concluded. Following nearly five minutes of discussion, Tofael agreed to the proposal. However, shortly afterward, he mounted the stage and launched an unprovoked physical attack on the TBS video journalist in full view of attendees. However, instead of leaving, Saidul grabbed Tofael Ahmed by the collar and began assaulting him, as alleged in the complaint. Tofael Ahmed lost a DJI wireless microphone from his pocket during the assault. Approximately 10 minutes after the incident, when Saidul Islam hurled abuses again, Tofael Ahmed grew agitated and threw a chair at him. Tofael Ahmed subsequently filed a written complaint as the complainant at the Ramna Model Police Station.
Regarding the incident, TBS videographer Saidul Islam stated that he was capturing footage on camera inside the auditorium as part of his professional duties. At that time, representatives and cameras from other media outlets stepped in front of his line of sight, creating an obstruction. An argument and misunderstanding arose when he tried to address the issue. Saidul Islam claimed that during the exchange, the situation spiraled out of control, and the opposing party physically assaulted him and hurled a plastic chair at him.
According to eyewitness journalist Sujon Khondokar, there was a massive crowd of journalists, students, and parents in the Viqarunnisa hallroom on the day SSC results were published. As representatives from multiple media outlets attempted to conduct interviews simultaneously in the same location, complications arose regarding framing and camera tripod positioning. Sujon Khondokar noted that amid the crowd, unwanted personal slurs and verbal spats suddenly escalated into shoving and a physical brawl. Within moments, panic spread across the entire hallroom as one party raised chairs to strike the other. Other journalists present on the scene later intervened and separated the conflicting parties.
Following the incident, Tofael Ahmed submitted a written complaint to the Ramna Model Police Station alleging assault and loss of property. The duty officer at Ramna Police Station accepted the written complaint and assured that necessary legal action would be taken following an investigation.
This untoward and violent incident among media professionals on an institution’s premises during a celebratory day like the SSC result publication has sparked adverse reactions among attending students, parents, and civil society.
Correction: The original report identified the undersigned, Abu Sayeed, as a MOJO Reporter of Ekushey Television, based on information provided by complainant Tofael Ahmed. This is incorrect. Abu Sayeed is currently working as a MOJO Reporter at Global Television.
Statement from Abu Sayeed, Global Television MOJO Reporter:
“I was performing my professional duties and taking statements from SSC candidates when I heard shouting behind me. I later saw Tofael Ahmed involved in an altercation with a person whom I subsequently learned was a TBS video journalist. I, along with several other journalists, tried to stop the altercation. A short 4–5 second video of the incident was accidentally recorded on my phone, which I later handed over to Tofael Ahmed at his request.
I later saw Tofael Ahmed’s Facebook post claiming that the incident occurred because the TBS video journalist had behaved improperly toward me and that he had protested against it. I would like to clarify that I had no conversation or altercation with the said video journalist and I did not ask anyone to intervene on my behalf. My involvement was limited to performing my professional duties and attempting to prevent the altercation.”