Assault on Journalists
Arrest of Hallmark MD demanded
Journalists at a demonstration yesterday issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the government to arrest Hallmark Group's managing director and employees who assaulted a private television channel's journalists on Tuesday.
Boishakhi Television's senior reporter Dipu Sarwar, videographer Miron Hossain, and a local correspondent Abdul Halim were seeking access to the company's Tentuljhora office at Savar to report on the recent financial scam involving the group.
The company's employees locked in an altercation with the journalists at the main entrance of the office complex and then assaulted them.
The demonstration, by members of Dhaka Reporters Unity, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, Dhaka Union of Journalists and other media organisations, took place under Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh's banner before its Segunbagicha office in the capital.
The journalists condemned the company's managing director, Tanvir Mahmud, for embezzling Tk 2,686 crore from Sonali Bank and accused him of ordering the assault.
They also declared to announce a greater agitation programme on September 2.
A Bangladesh Bank investigation found that Sonali Bank's Ruposhi Bangla Hotel branch lent Hallmark Group and five other companies Tk 3,547 crore between 2010 and May this year on fake documents.
Of the amount, belonging to depositors, Hallmark Group embezzled Tk 2,686 crore in collusion with some bank officials.
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