Many of my friends and students read my articles when they appear in the Internet edition of The Daily Star. I always alert my students when articles on economic issues are published. On May 30, two of the students who read my article entitled, "Price spiral and possible remedies" asked me about the story on disruption of the journalist convention in Kustia and the merciless beating by the hooligans of a local lawmaker Shahidul Islam. I felt enraged, which made me speechless for a few seconds in front of the students.

No, I was not in shame; I never felt shame in my life to face the truth however bitter it may be. No, I was not enraged with the students who asked me the questions; I became speechless because all these years I have been promoting my country of birth as democratic and freedom of press loving nation and in some respects ahead of the US in terms of electing Women Prime Ministers for almost a decade and a half.

I learned that tension between the journalists and three Kustia lawmakers was brewing for sometime following the publication of reports about their declining popularity along with the various mischievous and notorious activities of one of them Shahidul Islam. As reprisal, Shahidul and his followers started harassing and intimidating the four journalists and filed fabricated charges of extortion against them.

The journalists' convention in Kushtia, on May 29, was organised to protest against such harassment and intimidation by ruling BNP lawmaker Shahidul Islam and his two parliament colleagues. Unfortunately, the convention instead of becoming a venue of protest turned into a theatre for the whipping of the journalists by those against whom the peaceful convention was organised. The rampage and running amok of Shahidul continued with the ransacking of the newspaper office, Dainik Andolaner Bazar, forcing the suspension of its publication on May 31.

If these lawmakers had proper education and some semblance of intelligence they would have used the press report about their declining popularity as a wakeup call and worked towards improving their image. Now, after this heinous crime they will probably get a pat on their backs from the party hierarchy. This should not be treated as an isolated incident; it is symptomatic of the serial nature of smear campaigns the ruling alliance has often been waging against the media since it was installed in power in 2001.

It was not so long ago that state police and security forces had beaten up journalists, prior to a cricket match against the visiting Australian team, without any provocation. This time BNP's own political party activists and elected MPs from Kustia are directly involved. The expatriates and the international community of journalists are outraged and are waiting to see what punitive measures BNP Chairperson is taking against her own party hoodlums.

Speaking as guest of honour at the monthly luncheon meeting of American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel on June 1, US Ambassador Patricia A Butenis observed, "I was shocked and saddened by the attacks earlier this week on the journalists convention in Kushtia, even more so by reports that the assailants were associated with local officials of an important political party."

What journalists are subjected to in their line of work in Bangladesh was aptly expressed by the former US Ambassador Harry Thomas, who said: "It is not an easy place for journalists. I salute the journalists of this country for the way they are working under duress." Recalling the killing of journalists in Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Jessore, he said: "We want to see the killers of journalists brought to justice."

Journalists in the capital and various parts of the country condemned the incidents and demanded punitive measures against the culprits. Amnesty International on June 2, called upon the government to investigate all allegations of intimidation and violent attacks on journalists in Kushtia. State minister Babar also condemned this premeditated and disgraceful act of BNP activists.

Such protests and condemnations have gone unheeded in the past and don't penetrate the thick skin of the alliance government. Past assurances by the government to bring the murderers of veteran journalists Shamsur Rahman, Manik Shaha and Humayun Kabir Balu to justice are yet to be realised.

Journalists are the last beacon of hope against tyranny, autocracy and all forms of social, political and economic tomfoolery of a government. Historically, corrupt and power famished rulers who have everything to hide have resorted to anti media activities. The citizens and the international community must take a firm stand against the offenders and perpetrators. At the minimum the national media may inform the government about the following measures:

• That a moratorium be imposed on the publishing of political news and activities of the ruling alliance for a prolonged period of time unless the authority takes stern measures against those implicated;
• Journalists are not bound by national borders. The local journalists, independently, and with support from the Amnesty International may appeal to all democratic governments to impose travel restrictions on politicians and government officials involved in the crime against journalists and free media.
• With the beginning of the campaign for the 2007 national elections, the alliance rulers must guarantee that their party workers will eschew all activities that harassment contravene people's right to freedom of expression and views without fear of pestering and retribution;
• There was not enough police protection at the Kustia convention premises. In future, sufficient security protection must be provided if sought for by the convention organisers.
• Journalists, on their part, must report news and incidents objectively, as they happen, without being opinionated. They may, however, exercise their right to freedom of opinion by writing newspaper "Op-Ed" articles, as this writer often does.

No government or political party ever failed anywhere because of transparency, the upholding of the rule of law, and the freedom of media. Francois-Marie de Voltaire once said, "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. But that does not mean I waive the right to argue with you! That is as much my constitutional right as it is yours." What a mind shattering statement?

Voltaire did not have to die to preserve the freedom of press. Many thousands met deaths and persecutions and many more will sacrifice life for the right to read, write and speak their mind fearlessly.

Dr. Abdullah A. Dewan is Professor of Economics at Eastern Michigan University