Journo Pulak’s hanging body recovered

Police have recovered the hanging body of senior journalist Pulak Chatterjee, former Barisal bureau chief of the daily Samakal newspaper. His hanging body was recovered from the Samakal office on Parera Road in the city on Friday afternoon.

Samakal’s current bureau chief, Sumon Chowdhury, said that Pulak Chatterjee was relieved of his duties as Barisal bureau chief of Samakal in 2023. He used to visit his former workplace from time to time, coming into the office on various occasions to read the newspaper.

Sumon Chowdhury said that around 6pm on Friday, when he went to open the office, he found the door locked from inside. Looking through a gap, he saw Pulak Chatterjee hanging with a rope around his neck. He then alerted people nearby, who in turn informed the police. Police arrived at the scene, broke down the office door, entered, and recovered his body.

BMP Deputy Commissioner of Police Shushanto Sarkar said that upon receiving the news, police went to the scene and broke down the door in the presence of everyone before entering.

He said it initially appears to be a case of suicide, but that this can only be confirmed after investigation, and that a CID team will investigate the matter.

Meanwhile, Pulak Chatterjee’s death has cast a shadow of grief over Barisal’s media community. Upon hearing news of the body’s recovery, colleagues and fellow journalists rushed to the scene. Colleagues have demanded an investigation into what caused this to happen.

Senior journalist Pulak Chatterjee was a member of the current executive committee of the Barisal Press Club.