Special Correspondent: Journalist leaders on Tuesday gave a 24-hour ultimatum to law enforcers to arrest the assailants who carried out a “premeditated and brutal” attack on journalist Md. Mosleh Uddin Bachchu, general secretary of Dhaka Press Club and member of Dhaka Union of Journalists.Bachchu came under attack in the BK Bari area of Mirzapur union under Joydebpur Police Station in Gazipur Sadar upazila. Armed with hammers and sticks, a group of criminals allegedly tried to kill him. Critically injured, he was rushed to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital in Gazipur city.Protesting the assault, journalists formed a human chain in front of the National Press Club at 11:00 AM on Tuesday (April 21).Speakers at the program said the attack on a professional journalist “is by no means an isolated incident.” It is a direct assault on independent journalism, freedom of expression, and the safety of the media, they said.“We strongly demand that the administration and law enforcement agencies arrest the attackers immediately, ensure a fair and impartial investigation, and provide the injured journalist with the highest treatment and security,” they added.Among those who addressed the human chain were Md. Zakir Hossain, former executive member of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists and news editor of NBP News; Md. Raju Ahmed, executive member of Dhaka Union of Journalists; Lion Shahadat Hossain Shaheen, president of Dhaka Press Club; Finance Secretary M Nazrul Islam; Vice-President Afsana Rahman; Joint Secretary Nazrul Islam Khan; Executive Member Shariful Islam Akon; members Md. Robiul Islam, Mosharraf Hossain Raju, Abu Taleb, Nipa Akter; AKM Azizul Haque, central president of Society of National Mass Media Commission; and its Central Organizing Secretary Kamal Khan, among others.Warning of tougher programs, the journalist leaders said repeated attacks on newsmen pose a grave threat to democracy and the rule of law. “Ensuring journalists’ safety through effective and permanent measures is now the demand of the time. All journalist bodies across the country will continue united movement until justice is ensured in this case,” they declared.No statement from police regarding arrests was available till the filing of this report at 6:00 PM.