Death threat if writing not stopped, letter in name of ‘Tawhidi Janata’ to journalist

Hasan Imam Ibn Habib alias Hasan Imam Rubel, a journalist of Bheramara in Kushtia, has alleged receiving a letter in the name of ‘Tawhidi Janata’ warning him to stop writing, with a threat of killing if he does not comply. He has expressed doubt over the actual source of the letter and filed a general diary (GD) at the police station over the incident.

Hasan Imam Rubel said the letter was left under the main gate of his house in Hirimdia village under Bheramara police station at dawn on Wednesday (August 26). The letter expressed anger over various statuses, comments and writings on his social media and warned him to stop such writings. Otherwise he would not return with his life and would be ‘killed’, he alleged.

The letter claimed to have personal information about him on various matters and also mentioned that his movements were under watch. Concerned about his own and his family’s security for these reasons, he lodged the complaint at the police station.

Hasan Imam Rubel said he had come to the village home with family members for a few days. At dawn he found the letter in the name of ‘Tawhidi Janata’ under the gate of the house. He demanded identification of the actual source of the letter and those involved through investigation and legal action against them.

Hasan Imam Rubel worked for a long time as a senior reporter at Prothom Alo. Later he also served as output editor of Channel 24 and executive editor of NewsBangla. At present he writes on various social, political and religious issues on social media.

Officer-in-charge of Bheramara police station Muhammad Zahedur Rahman said journalist Hasan Imam Rubel has filed a general diary at the station. Police have inspected his house. Who delivered the letter is being examined.

Although the name of ‘Tawhidi Janata’ was used in the letter, Hasan Imam Rubel has not directly held any person or organisation responsible. As a result, whether the threat letter was actually sent by any organisation or someone else used that name has also become a matter of investigation.

According to local sources, allegations of threat letters and threats through various means have been raised against several others in Bheramara in recent times. On August 17 a letter in the name of a special force was given to Kiyamat Ali Sardar of Jagshwar village under Juniadah union demanding Tk 15 lakh as toll and threatening to kill him along with his family if the money was not paid. Besides, information has been found of threats through various numbers and WhatsApp to a district convener of a political party and several officials of government and private institutions.