ASI closed

An assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of Ramna Police Station was "closed" while till yesterday no steps have been taken against Sub-inspector (SI) Mehedi Hasan who allegedly led the beating up of New Age's Dhaka University (DU) correspondent and the journalist's friend after being about to be photographed violating a recent ban by riding pillion on another policeman's motorcycle in the capital's Bijoynagar on Sunday.

ASI Golam Mostafa has been "closed" while an additional deputy commissioner was probing the involvement of others, said Officer-in-Charge Moshiur Rahman last evening.

The journalist, Nazmul Huda Suman, a third-year DU political science student, and Kairuzzaman Shuvo of management were shifted to the DU medical centre yesterday. They were first treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Yesterday, journalists' organisations demanded immediate punitive measures against SI Mehedi and threatened to otherwise embark on tough agitation programmes in the next couple of days.

Jatiya Press Club and a faction of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists issued separate statements while Dhaka University Journalists' Association formed a human chain in front of the DU arts faculty.

Jagannath University Journalist Association, Gono Bishwabidyalay Journalist Association and Comilla University Journalist Association also condemned the torture.