Case against 5 journalists for publishing news in Taltali

A case has been filed against 7 people including 5 local journalists for publishing the news of UP member being stripped naked in Barguna's Taltali. Various journalist societies have strongly condemned this false case.

Shahdat Hossain filed this case in Amtali Senior Judicial Magistrate Court on Thursday (05 September) afternoon. Court judge Arifur Rahman took cognizance of the case and ordered Barguna Detective Branch (DB) to investigate and submit a report.

The defendants in the false case are the president of Taltali Press Club. Khairul Islam, journalist Mahmudul Hasan of Manzamin newspaper, Mustafiz journalist of Dainik Aham Saham newspaper, journalist Mo Jalil of Asian TV, journalist of Ajker Darpan newspaper and joint general secretary of press club Hafizur Rahman, and UP member Jamal Khan and his cousin Ferdaus who were beaten to their clothes. It has been alleged that a mobile phone was stolen from the attacker Shahdat and 50,000 rupees was damaged by beating.

It is known that last Saturday, August 31, in front of Jamal Khan, a UP member of Ward No. 9 of Nishan Baria Union of Upazila, the miscreants anchored a steel body trawler with a stolen engine in Nidra Sluizghat canal and escaped. When the locals informed the UP member Jamal Khan, he informed the Upazila Nirbahi Officer. Later he ordered the engine driven steel body trawler to be kept in the custody of the UP member. On getting this news, they along with Abul Kalam, Mizanur Rahman, Bashir, journalist Naim and Shahadat offered money to take the stolen trawler immorally around 10 pm. If you don't agree with it, try to take it away. When the UP member stopped him, 25-30 people, including Abul Kalam, Mizanur Rahman, Bashir, journalist Naeem and Shahadat, beat Jamal Khan and injured him with a knife. At one stage of the beating, the UP member was filmed stripping naked. At that time, the attackers threatened to kill the local residents when they tried to rescue them and take them to the hospital. In fear of his life, if he did not seek treatment at home, the next day at noon, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sifat Anwar rescued Tumpa UP member Jamal Khan and sent him to the hospital. In this incident, the UP member filed a case in the court mentioning the names of 12 attackers as the plaintiff.

Meanwhile, the members of Taltali Press Club went to collect news at the spot on August 1 at around 12 noon after receiving the news of the beating. Later, several journalists of the upazila published the news of Ekabashi Manabbandhan demanding the publication of the news of the beating and the prosecution of the attackers. An assailant named Shahdat Hossain has filed a case against 7 people including 5 local journalists for falsely accusing the UP member of beating Amasi.

Former president of Taltali Press Club and Yugantar journalist Mu A. Motalib said, I also went to news gathering and published the news in this beating incident. Journalists have only performed professional duties here. Moreover, they were not present at the scene. A case is being filed against them in the case of beating. It's sad. He demanded immediate withdrawal of the case.

Barguna Barguna Detective Branch Officer-in-Charge Md. Bashir Alam said, we have not received the case order yet. After receiving the order, a proper investigation will be done and a fair report will be submitted to the court.