Comilla Correspondent:

A barbaric and despicable terrorist attack has been launched on Akhinur Akhter Akhi, a brave female journalist of the Daily Jugantor, for posting a protest status on Facebook against drug dealer Sumon Chandra Das, the younger son of Santosh Chandra Das of Aju Memberbari, Rajamehar village, Debidwar, Comilla.

Such an attack on a journalist is not only a personal attack, but also a deep conspiracy and a terrible threat to the entire journalistic community. Bangladesh Central Press Club (B.C.P.C) has strongly condemned, protested and expressed anger at this heinous incident.

Bangladesh Central Press Club (B.C.P.C) Founding President Khan Selim Rahman said, “It is unacceptable for a female journalist to be attacked by terrorists in public. This incident has proven how reckless the drug trade has become. Protecting the security of the journalist community is the fundamental responsibility of the state. We request the state and the administration to bring the attackers to justice as soon as possible and ensure exemplary punishment for those responsible.

Bangladesh Central Press Club (B.C.P.C) Founding General Secretary Md. Mahidul Hasan Sarkar said, “Attacking a journalist for revealing the truth means an attempt to silence the voice of the nation. We want to clearly inform the administration that no matter how powerful the drug traders and their godfathers are, they must be arrested quickly and given exemplary punishment. Otherwise, the journalist community will be forced to form human chains in different districts of the country, and the administration will not be able to avoid its responsibility in any way.”

Bangladesh Central Press Club (B.C.P.C) has announced—

1. Attacks on journalists will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
2. The drug dealers and their associates who attacked them must be arrested immediately and brought to justice.
3. If immediate action is not taken, strict programs including human chains will be held in different districts of the country along with the journalist community.

Dear journalist colleagues, brothers and sisters and friends—

1. You should continue to write for the truth and against injustice, do not stop writing under any circumstances.
2. Everyone should protest from their respective positions, silence is not a solution.
3. If you are afraid, hide your face, but remember, one day you will have to bear the responsibility of silence.