Gobindaganj (Gaibandha) Correspondent:
While on duty in Gobindaganj, Gaibandha, Mahmud Hasan Naim, the Upazila Correspondent of Satellite Television Channel S and the District Correspondent of Nirapat News, and his cameraman Niaz Morshed were assaulted by terrorists. The attackers beat them with sticks, clubs and iron rods and snatched their cash, smartphones and cameras.
The incident took place at around 7 pm on Saturday (August 30) in the Charkatala Bazar area of Darvast Union.
The journalists got angry when they started recording videos while collecting information about irregularities related to land documents. The attack was led by a group of 5-7 people including Mahbubur Islam, son of Korban Ali of Bogulagari (Nayapara) village of Darvast Union, Lichu Mia of Akhirafatepur village, Bappi Mia of Singjani (Kalitla) village and Mottaleb Hossain of Maria village.
Journalist Naeem alleged that we were attacked for seeking information to reveal the truth. They also deleted the camera footage to destroy the evidence.
Local sources said that the attackers have been using the political identity of Jamaat for a long time to carry out various criminal activities in the area. Upazila Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Maulana Abul Hossain Master said in this regard, Jamaat-e-Islami will not bear the responsibility if someone commits a crime using the name of our party. We never support the torture of journalists.
A teacher who did not want to be named said that such attacks on journalists are a bad sign for democracy and free journalism. The criminals should be arrested quickly. Another conscious citizen commented, if a journalist has to be beaten up to write the truth, where is the justice for the common people?
After the incident, Gobindaganj Police Station reached the spot and started an investigation. A police team conducted a raid and was able to recover the memory card snatched from the journalists’ cameras.
Gobindaganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Bulbul Islam said, “We are working to quickly identify and arrest the culprits by recovering evidence. All legal measures will be taken against the culprits through a fair investigation.”