Journos demand action against DIG Mizan

Journalist leaders yesterday demanded action against Deputy Inspector General of police Mizanur Rahman for allegedly issuing death threats to two journalists over their reports.

They also expressed deep concern as police members at Bhatara Police Station refused to record a general diary (GD) in this regard.

Journalists from different media outlets made the call in a demonstration organised by Crime Reporter's Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) on its office premises in the city.

DIG Mizan allegedly issued threats to Nesarul Haque Khokon, senior reporter of Bangla Daily Jugantor; and Abdullah Tuhin, special correspondent of Jamuna Television; while he was talking to a TV presenter over the phone.

The threats came after the journalists ran reports of alleged forced marriage and torture on a woman by the official.

Following the reports, a three-member committee led by an additional inspector general of police has been formed to probe the allegations.

Mizan was an additional commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) before being withdrawn and attached to the police headquarters on January 9.

Demanding action against the police official at yesterday's demonstration, Dhaka Reporters' Unity president Saiful Islam said it is unacceptable that journalists will receive threats when they make reports on misuse of power by a police official.

Crab president Abu Saleh Akon said the incident of torturing journalists and issuing threats for their professional work have been recurring due to the prevailing culture of impunity in the country where killers of journalists do not even receive punishment.

Dhaka Union of Journalists General Secretary Sohel Haider Chowdhury urged the authorities concerned to withdraw all the facilities Mizan enjoys as a DIG so that he can not interfere in the probe.

He also demanded a judicial probe committee alongside the departmental investigation.

DRU former general secretary Sajjad Alam Khan Topu expressed frustration as journalists were denied police protection by the Bhatara police's refusal to record the GD. 

Meanwhile, DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, while responding to a query in a different programme, said the police have to register a GD whenever anyone wishes to do so at a police station.

“If anyone was denied lodging of a GD, he can file a complaint with high officials [of police]. I am the police commissioner, but I don't receive any such complaints ...complaints can also be lodged with the court,” he said.

The DMP chief further said that it would not be right to conduct a “media trial” or exert influence by bringing up the issue repeatedly.

Contradicting his claim, journalist Khokon said on January 11 he had complained to the DMP boss over phone about police's refusal to record the GD. He claimed that he has a voice recording of the conversation.

CRAB General Secretary Sarwar Alam, former general secretary Kamruzzaman Khan, also spoke during the demonstration.