They held rallies and brought out processions in districts, saying these are part of a plan to gag the media and thwart the nascent democracy.

In Mymensingh, a scheduled formal ceremony to hand over charges to the new office bearers of BFUJ (Bangladesh federal Union of Journalists) turned into protest programmes after the attack in Kushtia on a journalists' convention a day before in which former BJUF president and Observer editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and 20 others were injured.

At a meeting held at Mymensingh Press Club auditorium, journalist leaders from different parts of the country condemned the attacks and said they are becoming prime targets of political cadres because they reveal their misdeeds.

They strongly condemned the attack in Kushtia, saying journalists will not be cowed down by attack of musclemen let loose by a ruling party lawmaker. They called upon journalists to forge unity to face the situation.

They demanded immediate arrest and punishment of the attackers.

Some 40 journalists from Chittagong, Rajshahi, Bogra, Dinajpur and newly elected executive body of BFUJ and local journalists of different organizations attended the meeting with Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury in the chair.

At a simple function in the meeting, charged were handed over to the newly elected executive body of BFUJ.

The meeting over, journalists brought out a procession in the town. The processionists chanted slogans demanding punishment to Shahidul Islam, MP, the alleged mastermind of Monday's attack in Kushtia.

The procession terminated in front of the press club with a rally, where it was announced that June 6 will be observed across the country as a 'day to protect journalists from oppression'.

In the afternoon, a seminar on "Obstacles in Fair Journalism" was held at the press club.

Protests were also held in Rajshahi, Satkhira, Rangpur, Kurigram and some mother districts.

In Satkhira, a meeting was held at Satkhira Reporters' Club. Chaired by Kalyan Banerjee (Prothom Alo), speakers at the meeting demanded arrest and punishment to the attackers including lawmaker Shahidul Islam.

Rajshahi University (RU), the Rajshahi Union of Journalists (RUJ) held a meeting in front of the central library.

Earlier, journalists paraded the city streets and held a rally at Shaheb Bazer zero point, where speakers called upon the government and police administration to ensure safety and security of journalists.

They also threatened to launch a tougher agitation if the culprits are not punished.

Rajshahi Metropolitan Press Club, Rajshahi Press Club, Rajshahi Reporters' Unity and Rajshahi City Press Club also staged protests against the attack.

In Rangpur, members of the Reporters' Club brought out a procession and held a rally at the Court Square with its president Rafique Sarker in the chair. The rally was addressed by local leaders of Awami League and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD).