Journalist shot dead in Netrokona

Miscreants have shot and killed a journalist named Lutfuzzaman Alif Fakir in Kalmakanda of Netrokona. This incident took place at Utrail Bazar on the Shyamganj-Birishiri road of the upazila around 8:15pm on Thursday night. Police are conducting an operation to identify and arrest the persons involved in the killing.

The deceased Lutfuzzaman used to work as the Netrokona correspondent of the private IPTV channel Ruposi Bangla. Alongside he used to operate a Facebook page named ‘Detective Article’. He used to write about various irregularities and crimes on that page. His village home is in Sunai village of Pogla Union of Kalmakanda upazila.

It has been learnt from eyewitnesses and police sources that Lutfuzzaman was in front of a shop of Utrail Bazar on Thursday night. At that time two youths who came on a motorcycle fired several bullets one after another targeting him. When the local people came forward after hearing the sound of the gunfire, the attackers fled on the motorcycle. Later when the local people rescued him and took him to the Upazila Health Complex, the doctor on duty declared him dead.

Eyewitness tea stall owner Robin Rangcha informed that Lutfuzzaman was coming out for home after drinking tea at his shop. At that time he was cleaning cups at the shop. At that time two youths came and first asked for cigarettes. After that they suddenly fired bullets targeting Lutfuzzaman. When the surrounding people came forward, the attackers fled on the motorcycle.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Durgapur Police Station Khondaker Shaker Ahmad Khan said that marks of five bullets have been found on various places of the body of the deceased journalist including the head, neck and chest. The incident of the killing is being investigated.

Police Superintendent of Netrokona Md. Torikul Islam said that the incident is being primarily assumed as a planned killing. The operation of the police is ongoing to arrest the persons involved.

Earlier on November 10 of last year at noon Lutfuzzaman had become a victim of an attack by miscreants in the Teribazar Ghat area of the Someshwari river. At that time he was cut and injured. When a colleague who was with him went to obstruct, he was also chased by showing a weapon.