Two journalists attacked in Khulna

Two journalists of the newspaper Amar Desh were attacked in Khulna. The incident took place on Saturday November 8 afternoon, under Sultan Dine Restaurant at Shibbari intersection in the city.

The injured are Ehteshamul Haque Shawon, Assistant General Secretary of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Khulna Bureau Chief of Amar Desh, and staff reporter Kamrul Hossain Moni.

Kamrul Hossain Moni said, “In the afternoon, when I came to Shibbari intersection over a matter, 8 to 10 miscreants, in a pre-planned manner, attacked Shawon. When I tried to intervene, they assaulted me as well.”

Ehteshamul Haque Shawon said, “I spoke with a person over the phone and agreed to meet. When I reached Shibbari intersection, 8 to 10 men surrounded me and began beating me. To protect myself, I went inside Hotel Tiger Garden. They also beat my colleague Kamrul severely. The attackers came here earlier in a microbus.”

Treasurer of Metropolitan Journalists’ Union Khulna, Abdur Razzak Rana, said, “Administrative inaction is responsible for such attacks. If justice had been served in previous incidents, this would not have happened.”

General Secretary of Khulna Metropolitan BNP, Shafiqul Alam Tuhin, said, “There is no visible activity from law enforcement agencies. The police administration is not fulfilling its responsibilities properly. The attackers must be brought to justice swiftly.”

Local journalists have expressed strong outrage and condemnation over the incident. Khulna Press Club, Metropolitan Journalists’ Union Khulna, BFUJ Khulna Unit and Khulna Online Journalists Association have demanded the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the attackers.

Officer-in-Charge of Sonadanga Model Police Station, Md Kabir Hossain, said, “We reached the scene after receiving the news. CCTV footage from nearby areas has been collected. The attackers will be arrested as soon as possible.”