Allegations of attack on journalist Rasel in Jatrabari
Staff Reporter:
Ismail Hossain Rasel, a staff correspondent for online news outlet Jago News, has been accused of an attack on a factory in Jatrabari, in the capital Dhaka. The attack took place at the Abid Lighting Factory next to Donia College in Jatrabari on Monday (06 May, 2024).
Later, Rasel was brought to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Locals said that rasel’s sister’s husband, Rezaul, is an employee of the Abid Lighting Factory. Rezaul was tortured at the factory on Monday afternoon. After learning about the matter, when rasel and his cousin Nahin went there, the factory manager Rezaul abused them and threw them out.
Later, when they contacted the Jatrabari police station, police sub-inspector (SI) Rafiq told them that he was coming to the spot. However, when the police did not arrive after a long time, Rasel informed his uncle, Anwar Hossain Akash, editor and publisher of the daily Swadhin Sangbad, about the matter.
they alleged that they were attacked when they and Anwar Hossain went to the factory again. The victims alleged that they were severely beaten. Rasel, his uncle Akash, and cousin Nahin were injured in the incident.
Shortly after the attack, Jatrabari Police Station SI Rafiq arrived at the scene, and journalists repeatedly requested to be taken to the hospital. The victims alleged that the police did not cooperate with them and pressured them to resolve the matter.
Later, they were forced to sign a stamp stating that the matter had been resolved as per the factory officials and employees’ request. The victims said that SI Rafiq was present there at the time.
Rasel has filed a case with Jatrabari Police Station regarding this matter. Police have arrested two people, including the main accused in the case GM Rezaul, in a raid.
Dhaka Reporters Unity, Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF), Dhaka Journalist Union (DUJ), Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy (RFED) strongly condemned the incident and demanded punishment for the culprits.