Rajshahi, Aug 28 (V7N) - In Rajshahi, a BNP leader has initiated legal action against 14 journalists, including two media publishers. The complaint names nine of the journalists specifically, while the remaining five are listed as unidentified.
 
The case, filed at Boalia Model Police Station, accuses four individuals of demanding a bribe of one lakh taka, and involves charges of vandalism at the Metropolitan BNP office, where two publishers and four journalists are named as defendants. Additionally, a separate case has been filed at Bagha Police Station accusing a journalist of involvement in an attack on a student leader’s grocery store.
 
Boalia Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge, SM Masud Parvez, stated that the BNP's Joint Convener, Bazlur Rahman Montu, has filed a complaint of extortion against four journalists, identifying nine suspects. Five others are listed as unidentified. Sub-Inspector Tajuddin Ahmed has been assigned to investigate the case, with necessary actions to follow based on the investigation’s findings.
 
The journalists named in the case are:
 
  • Rafiqul Islam, President of the Rajshahi Journalist Union and Bureau Chief of Daily Kaler Kantho
  • Rashed Ripon, Joint Secretary of the Bangladesh Federal Journalist Union and Rajshahi Correspondent for GTV
  • Rozina Sultana, Rajshahi Correspondent for Daily Kortoa
  • Asgar Ali Sagar, Reporter for Local Daily Upachar
 
According to the FIR, on December 3, 2022, BNP held a divisional rally in Rajshahi. As it was a BNP-organized event, photos of party founder Ziaur Rahman, Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, and Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman were prominently displayed. Media cards were issued to journalists for covering the event, which most journalists accepted voluntarily.
 
The FIR further alleges that on the day before the rally, these media cards were distributed from the BNP office. Bazlur Rahman Montu claims that when the accused were given the cards, they demanded a bribe of one lakh taka. Upon refusal, they allegedly threatened him with death. The complaint also accuses them of making defamatory statements about Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman, calling them ‘murderers’ and ‘convicted criminals’, and spreading these statements on social media via RTV and their personal accounts.
 
Additionally, in another case filed by Bazlur Rahman Montu concerning the vandalism of the party office, two publishers and four journalists are named as defendants. They are:
 
  • Azizul Alam Bentu, Publisher and CEO of Padma Times 24.com
  • Yunus Ali, Publisher and Acting Editor of Daily Sunshine
  • Nure Islam Millon, News Editor of Daily Upachar
  • Sabuj Ali, Staff Reporter for Daily Upachar
In this case, Azizul Alam Bentu is listed as the 21st defendant, Yunus Ali as the 196th, Nure Islam Millon as the 101st, and Sabuj Ali as the 102nd. The case also includes 231 named individuals, including AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, a Presidium Member of the Awami League and former City Mayor, and Fazle Hossain Badsha, General Secretary of the Workers Party of Bangladesh, among 631 suspects.
 
Furthermore, in a case filed by student leader Zahid Hasan from Kishorepur village in Bagha, Md. Nuruzaaman, General Secretary of Bagha Press Club and representative for Daily Ittefaq and Daily Sunshine, is named as the 14th defendant. The case lists 141 named suspects and 150 unidentified individuals.
 
The FIR claims that on August 25, during an attack on Zahid Hasan’s business, slogans of ‘Joy Bangla’ were chanted, leading to vandalism, looting, arson, and a hand grenade explosion.
 
Nuruzaaman has argued that he may be a target due to the news coverage and believes he has been falsely implicated in a politically motivated case.
 
END/MRA/SMA/