Journalist sues Kalihati MP over issuing ‘death threats’

A local journalist has filed a case against Hasan Imam Khan Sohel Hazari, an Awami League lawmaker of Tangail-4 (Kalihati) constituency, and six others for issuing "death threats" against the complainant.

Rashid Ahammad Abbasi, 55, Kalihati correspondent of the daily Jababdihi and former president of Kalihati Press Club, filed the case with a Tangail court on Tuesday afternoon, reports our Tangail correspondent.

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The lawmaker denied the allegation and said the complainant and his family were "extortionists".

Tangail's Senior Judicial Magistrate Nushrat Jahan ordered the officer-in-charge of Kalihati Police Station to investigate the case, Tanvir Ahmed, court inspector of Tangail, told The Daily Star.

The court also ordered the OC to submit the report by November 1.

The six other accused: Abdul Mazid Tota, vice-president of Kalihati upazila unit AL, Dulal Hossain, Fazlul Haque, Abdul Kader, Plabon Miah and Shah Jalal alias Jamal.

According to the case statement, MP Sohel summoned journalist Rashid Abbasi to his residence on July 25. When Rashid visited his house, the MP ordered his men to kill him and dispose of his body, said the case statement.

The journalist screamed when he was being taken out of the house, which drew the attention of people, said the case statement.

He was then released and ordered to leave the area, failing which he would be killed, according to the statement.

The MP's men also vandalised his house the same day, the journalist alleged in the case.

Denying the allegation, MP Sohel Hazari said any citizen can file cases against anyone and that the law enforcement agency will investigate the case.

"Abbasi and his family members are known extortionists and everybody in the area knows it very well," he added.