Rajshahi Correspondent:
The controversial SI Mahbub Hasan, who was dismissed from the Intelligence Department (DB) of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP), was lynched by a local mob in the city’s Hajer More area late on Saturday (July 23). After the lynching, he was handed over to the local police.
At the time of the incident, the Rajshahi Bureau Chief of the National Daily Bartam, the Chief Correspondent of the National Daily Jayjay Kaler Uttarbangen and the Rajshahi Bureau Chief of Jugbarta Md. Pavel Islam Mimul were gathering news.
He was trying to record a video of the dismissed police officer. At that time, Sub Inspector Mohiuddin, the Deputy Police Inspector of Chandrima Police Station, stopped him and insulted him. This SI of the police was in civilian clothes.
Journalist Md. Pavel Islam said, “I was just trying to gather information, but the police not only stopped me, but also physically interfered. This is an unreasonable attack on journalists and a big threat to independent news gathering.”
Locals have alleged that the dismissed SI Mahbub Hasan has expressed anger over his involvement in a controversial incident in the city. They have also said that the police’s obstruction of journalists while they were recording videos is against the law and human rights.
The leaders of the Rajshahi divisional committee of the National Journalists’ Association have expressed strong anger and protest over the incident. They said that the attacks and assaults on journalists are hindering the freedom of the media. They have demanded that legal action be taken against the guilty person immediately to prevent such incidents from recurring.
The Rajshahi Online Journalists Forum strongly condemned and protested the incident. The leaders and members of the forum said, “It is the responsibility of the government to ensure the safety of journalists. Obstruction and physical attacks while gathering news are absolutely unacceptable. We hope that the concerned authorities will take appropriate action.”
The leaders of the Rajshahi Divisional Press Club said, “It is the responsibility of the concerned administration to ensure the safety of journalists while gathering news. If effective steps are not taken in this regard, the journalist community will be forced to launch a united movement.”
When asked about this, Deputy Police Inspector Sub Inspector Mohiuddin Sohag said, “There was no press card hanging around the neck. I did not understand. I have removed it.”