Bogura journos give 48-hr ultimatum to identify attackers

Bogura journalists today threatened to wage tougher movements if those responsible for assaulting three of their fellows are not identified and brought to justice within 48 hours.

A group of alleged Chhatra League activists yesterday assaulted Ducsu Vice President Nurul Haque Nur and several other quota reformists when activists of Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Adhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad, a quota reformist platform, were preparing for an iftar party on Woodburn Public Library premises in Bogra town.

Photo: Star

The BCL men also assaulted three journalists who were covering the incident. Among the trio, Jamuna TV cameraperson Shahnewas Shawon and staff reporter of local online news portal Pundra Kotha Abdul Awal were assaulted physically while senior photojournalist of Kaler Kantha Thanda Azad was verbally abused and threatened during the attack.

As part of the protest, journalists from Bogura Television Reporters’ Unity and Bogura Television Camerapersons’ Association today formed a human chain in the town’s Saatmatha area this afternoon and gave 48-hour ultimatum to the law enforcers to identify the attackers.

The journalist-assault by the BCL activists is an impediment on the way of free journalism, they said.

The protesters also alleged that the police did not take any security measures in the area before the iftar party where Ducsu Vice President Nurul Haque Nur took part, although they knew about the programme.

Shafiqul Islam, president of Bogura Television Camerapersons’ Association; Abdur Rahim, president of Bogura Television Reporters’ Unity; Mahmudul Alam Nayon, general secretary of Bogura Press Club; GM Sajal, vice-president of Bogura Press Club; JM Rouf, general secretary of Bogura Sangbadik Union and Amzad Hosen Mintu, president of Bogura Sangbadik Union were present during the programme.