No case has yet been filed over attacks on the offices of the upazila executive officers in Lalpur and Bagatipara, damage to government property and the beating of seven journalists, including Daily Sangram’s Bagatipara correspondent Fazlur Rahman, amid allegations of irregularities in recruiting Family Card supervisors and data collectors.
On Thursday afternoon, district journalists held a procession and a human chain demanding the attackers’ prompt arrest and trial. They gave the officers-in-charge of Lalpur and Bagatipara police stations 72 hours to be withdrawn, warning that larger programmes would follow.
On Wednesday, local Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal activists protested outside the two UNO offices over alleged irregularities and nepotism in recruitment. At Bagatipara, flowerpots and the UNO office gate were damaged and an agriculture officer and an office assistant were beaten. Four journalists, including Fazlur Rahman and Channel S’s Khademul Islam, were beaten when they tried to record the events; Channel One and Star News TV reporters were reportedly prevented from broadcasting live.
At Lalpur, protesters damaged CCTV cameras and allegedly mistreated social services officer Masud Rana and ICT officer Mahfuzur Rahman. Humanjamin reporter Rashedul and NTV Online’s Sajibul Islam Hridoy were reportedly beaten while recording.
More than 24 hours later, neither UNO had taken legal action. A district administration official, speaking anonymously, said no decision had yet been made to act over the damage. Lalpur police chief Shafiqul Islam and Bagatipara police chief Abdul Hannan said nobody had filed a complaint, but legal action would be taken if one was received.
At the human chain outside the Natore police superintendent’s office, speakers said police had failed to protect journalists and administrative officials, and that the UNO was detained and journalists attacked in the presence of police. Fazlur Rahman said a group led by Bagatipara upazila Chhatra Dal convener Sohel Rana and municipal Chhatra Dal convener Motaleb Hossain Panna attacked them, took cameras and phones, deleted footage and assaulted them.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report