Stop harassment in collusion with cops

Agitating Galachipa journos demand

19 September 2009, 17:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Patuakhali

Journalists form a human chain in front of Patuakhali Press Club yesterday demanding punishment to the attackers on local newsmen, withdrawal of 'harassment' cases and removal of Galachipa Police Station officer-in-charge. Photo: STAR

Patuakhali journalists yesterday formed a human chain in front of local press club demanding withdrawal of all the four 'harassment' cases filed against two journalists and immediate arrest of the perpetrators of September 9 attack on newsmen in Galachipa under Patuakhali district. They also demanded removal of the officer-in-charge of Galachipa Police Station for his failure to take action against the culprits. Over 50 journalists of different print and electronic media took part in the human chain from 11:00am to 12:00 noon. Later a protest meeting was held at the press club auditorium where club President Nirmol Kumar Rakhit and Jasad central Organising Secretary Habibur Rahman Shawkat addressed, among others. On September 9, journalist Mufti Salah Uddin went to Galachipa Police Station to file a case accusing 20/25 people including Israt Hossain Abbas for attack on the journalists in Galachipa but police recorded it as a GD and a few hours later, police told the complainant that the GD was cancelled. On the other hand, four 'harassment' cases have been filed with Galachipa Police Station against Israt Hossain Lipton, upazila correspondent of the daily Prothom Alo, and Simoon Rahman Elit, upazila correspondent of the daily Amar Desh. The two journalists are brothers. Their family members said the cases were filed to avenge their recent reports on local lawmaker's grabbing river and land. The reports were published in the Prothom Alo and Daily Amar Desh. A gang attacked Mufti Salahuddin, Patuakhali district correspondent for RTV, and Abu Taher Bappa, district correspondent for Bangla Vision, in Galachipa during performance of their professional duty on September 9. Besides, Shankar Lal Das, Patuakhali correspondent of the Prothom Alo and ABC Radio, Khondokar Delwar Jalali, Patuakhali correspondent of Channel 1 and Hanjala Shihab, Patuakhali correspondent of Digonta TV had to remain confined to Galachipa Police Station for two hours as the same gang threatened them. On September 10, local journalists submitted memorandum to State Minister for Religious Affairs Shahjahan Mia, also lawmaker from Patuakhali-1constituency, Patuakhali deputy commissioner and Patuakhali superintendent of police demanding action against the perpetrators.