Court orders further investigation in DRU journalists attack case

A Dhaka court has ordered the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to conduct further investigation into the case filed over the attack and attempted murder of journalists on the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) premises.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana issued this order on Tuesday.

According to court sources, Tuesday was scheduled for a hearing on the plaintiff's no-confidence petition (naraji petition) against the chargesheet submitted by Shahbagh police. The accused individuals were present in court at the time.

During the hearing, the plaintiff's lawyer, Prashanta Kumar Karmakar, stated that during the attack, one of the accused brandished a pistol in an attempt to kill DRU President Abu Saleh Akon. Yet, the police applied to exempt three accused individuals from the charges. Furthermore, the investigation results were not communicated to the plaintiff, and eyewitnesses were not interrogated.

The plaintiff's side also alleged that no evidence or clues regarding the attack were seized. Terming the police's submitted investigation report "vacuous," they appealed to transfer the case to the PBI for further investigation.

The plaintiff of the case, Solaiman Hossain, was also present in court.

On the night of May 21, 2025, a sudden attack took place on journalists on the DRU premises in Segunbagicha, capital. According to the allegations, around 50 people participated in the attack armed with pistols, local weapons, and sticks.

Several journalists, including DRU President Abu Saleh Akon, then-Office Secretary Rafiq Rafi, members Mashiur Rahman, Mahbub Hasan, Delwar Mohin, and Mafizul Sadik, were injured in the attack. Later, police and the army arrived to bring the situation under control.

The following day, May 22, DRU Administrative Officer Solaiman Hossain filed a case at Shahbagh Police Station as the plaintiff. The case named 10 individuals, with another 50 unidentified people listed as accused.

Upon concluding the investigation, Shahbagh police applied to exempt three accused individuals and submitted a chargesheet against seven. When the plaintiff's side filed a no-confidence petition against that investigation report, the court directed the PBI to carry out a further probe into the case.