John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)

Bangladesh is among the worst nations in the world in combating deadly anti-press violence. The highly respected New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, or CPJ, has tracked the murders of 12 journalists in Bangladesh that have not even been investigated.

An independent and credible investigation into the torture, murder and disappearance not only of journalists but a growing number of opposition leaders, labour activists and student leaders is badly needed. I ask the Tánaiste to call for the arrest of the killers of these journalists who apparently are well known in Bangladesh. This matter should be reinvestigated because the original investigation into the murder of these particular journalists has stopped. The Tánaiste should also call for an end to the assault and harassment of journalists in Bangladesh while performing their professional duties.

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