Sense of insecurity haunts newsmen in Rangpur, Khagrachhari
Journalists in Rangpur filed general diaries (GD) while the community in Khagrachhari held a meeting with the administration on Sunday seeking security of life while delivering professional duties.
Our Correspondent in Rangpur reports: Twenty-six newsmen of Baderganj upazila working with different national and local dailies lodged general diaries (GD) seeking security of life on Sunday night.
The newsmen alleged that a number of influential leaders of different political parties became annoyed with them because of filing reports against their politicisation, corruption and crimes.
To harass them, they lodged criminal cases against some newsmen with Baderganj police station. The disgruntled leaders of Baderganj also tried to influence local police to arrest the newsmen, they said.
Failing to involve police, they threatened the newsmen openly with death, according to allegations. The newsmen, however, did not mention in their GD names of the political leaders.
Our Correspondent in Khagrachhari reports: Journalists from different national and local media here on Sunday sought security of life while delivering their professional duties.
At a meeting with the district administration with Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Abdullah in the chair, they also painted a gloomy picture of the recent attacks and intimidation the newsmen faced during February 23 violence in the hill district.
The journalists who joined the meeting included Khagrachhari Press Club president Chowdhury Ataur Rahman, vice president Jiten Barua, secretary Azimul Hoque, editor of local daily Pratidin Khagrachhari Tarun Kumar Battachariya.
They alleged that while they were assaulted by some criminals during the violence police played a role of silent spectator.
Superintendent of Police Abu Kalam Siddique at the meeting assured the journalists of providing security while Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Abdullah said he will provided all possible assistance to reporters.
He however urged the reporters to write what he said neutrally, impartially and with balance.
Meanwhile in Patuakhali, another case was filed against Kamruzzaman Bachhu, Baufal upazila correspondent for the daily Janakantha last Thursday.
One Khokon filed a looting case with Baufal police station. Earlier Julhas, brother of Khokon filed an extortion case on February 14.
According to the latest case, Bachhu and six others entered into Dibaratri Pharmacy at hospital road in Baufal town by breaking open the lock of its door and looted cash Tk 97,238 and medicine worth Tk over 1.50 lakh. They also damaged medicine about Tk 50,000, it said.
According to the extortion case, Bachhu demanded Tk 2 lakh from Julhas as toll and he took away Tk 624 from Julhas' pocket on February 13.
The daily Janakantha recently published several stories on Julhas' activities. Julhas was on the run for long but he recently returned to Baufal and restarted his illegal activities. Before filing case he allegedly threatened Bachhu with dire consequences.
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