Rajshahi Correspondent:
Human chain and protest program was held to protest the armed attack on Rajshahi Barendra Press Club President Rezaul Karim. Journalist leaders have expressed their anger over the demand for quick arrest of those involved in the attack.
On Saturday (March 28) at 11 a.m., leaders and activists of various journalistic organizations participated in the human chain organized at Sahebbazar Zero Point in the city. Speakers strongly condemned the incident as planned and despicable and demanded that the culprits be swiftly brought to justice.
In his speech, Rezaul Karim, the main victim and President of Barendra Press Club, said, “I am not just a person, I am a representative of the journalist community. The attack on me is an attempt to intimidate the entire journalist community. For a long time, a gang has been demanding money. They have planned this attack because we refused it. They entered the club with weapons to kill me.”
He further said, “During the attack, I was threatened with a pistol on my head. Later, when they tried to attack me with sharp weapons, I resisted, in which I was seriously injured. Even today, I am undergoing treatment. But sadly, even after so long, the main accused are walking around in the open. It is not only depressing, but also worrying for the law and order situation.”
Expressing anger, Rezaul Karim said, “I make a strong demand to the administration – the criminals should be quickly arrested and brought under the law. Otherwise, we as a journalist community will be forced to go for a more stringent program together. We will not bow down to any terrorist group.”
Barendra Press Club General Secretary Shamsul Islam, Vice President Sheikh Rahmatullah, Treasurer Mamunur Rashid and other journalist leaders spoke at the human chain. They said that the attack was carried out preplanned by hiring a microbus, which is very worrying.
Masood Rana Rabbani, general secretary of River City Press Club, said that although a long time has passed since the incident, the main accused Noor Islam Milan and Suruj Ali have not been arrested yet. Rather, they are out in public and active on social media. He demanded exemplary peace by arresting them quickly.
Meanwhile, it has been alleged that an inquiry committee has been formed after temporarily suspending the accused from the Rajshahi Press Club, but no report has been published so far. The speakers demanded that the investigation report be released quickly. The speakers also demanded local expulsion from their club.
In this incident, a case has been filed against several persons including Nur Islam Milan, Suruj Ali at Boalia Model Police Station. The police said that the operation to arrest the accused is continuing. Journalist leaders have warned that if the arrest is not confirmed soon, a larger movement will be called in Rajshahi.
Incidentally, Nur Islam Milan and his associates have been demanding Tk 4 lakh subscription for several days in the name of managing the Barendra Press Club located in Shiroil Kacha Bazar area of Rajshahi. Because of this, a group of terrorists entered the club with local weapons, chapati and Chinese axes at around 8 pm on Saturday (March 7) and ran rampant. As he refused to pay the subscription, the main accused Noor Islam Milon took out a pistol and hit the president on his head, showing fear.
At one stage of the attack, when a terrorist named Suruj Ali tried to hit Rezaul Karim in the stomach with a sharp weapon, he resisted it with his hand. It left a deep gash on her thigh and required a total of 13 stitches.
Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dr. Zillur Rahman called several times, but he did not receive the call. So his statement is available
RMP Police Media Spokesperson Gaziur Rahman (Deputy Commissioner of Police) said that regular cases have been registered. The police are active in arresting the accused. The detective team is working to arrest the accused and they will be arrested soon.