Another case against ‘missing’ journo Kajol
Three weeks after journalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol went missing, his family on Tuesday came to know that a second case was filed against him under the Digital Security Act on March 10, the day he was last seen.
Amnesty International yesterday in a statement said such action raises further fears of an enforced disappearance.
Talking to this newspaper, the missing journalist's son Monorom Palak said they received a call from Kalabagan Police on Tuesday, enquiring about the second case filed with Hazaribagh Police Station.
Kalabagan police was following up on the case, as Kajol's office is located in Hatirpool, under their jurisdiction.
Ekram Ali Mia, officer-in-charge of Hazaribagh Police Station, confirmed that a case was filed under the Digital Security Act on March 10.
"I can't remember the case details now," the OC said.
Amnesty International said they have obtained the copy of the second case that police have registered against Kajol (50), a photographer and editor of the daily Dainik Pokkhokal.
It said three hours after the journalist went missing around 10:10PM on March 10, police recorded the case against Kajol filed by Usmin Ara Bailey, a member of Awami League, who accused him of committing "extortion" by "obtaining information illegally" and publishing "false, intimidating and defamatory" information on Facebook and Messenger under sections 25, 26 and 29 of Digital Security Act.
Bailey said in the case statement that she filed the case after consulting with the central leadership of the ruling party.
Amnesty said it is concerning to note that the second case was issued only three hours after he was last seen on CCTV cameras, and less than 24 hours after the first case was brought against him on the night of March 9.
Kajol's disappearance came a day after ruling party lawmaker (Magura-1) Saifuzzaman Shikhor filed a case against him, Editor-in-chief of daily Manabzamin Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, and 30 others on charge of publishing a report with "false information" and circulating it on social media.
A CCTV footage obtained by Amnesty shows that Kajol arrived on his motorbike at his newspaper office at Meher Tower in Dhaka's Hatirpool at 4:14pm on March 10.
Several unidentified men can be seen suspiciously moving around his motorbike and keeping an eye on it for nearly three hours before he left the premise, the rights body said.
In six minutes between 5:59PM and 6:05PM, three men approached his motorbike separately and appeared to tamper with it, it added referring to a CCTV footage.
The journalist is seen getting out of his office with another person at 6:19pm and walking past his motorbike. He then comes back and can be seen leaving the place on his motorbike alone at 6:51PM. That is the last time anyone has seen or heard from him, the rights body added.
Kajol's family suspects that he was abducted, and has been repeatedly urging authorities to help ensure his safe return.
"While everyone else is worried about Covid-19, my family is worried about where my father is; we cannot think about anything else. I hope no one has to live through this uncertainty," Palak told this newspaper yesterday.
Last year, Bangladeshi human rights organisation Odhikar documented at least 34 incidents of alleged enforced disappearances.
Eight of them were later found dead, 17 were shown arrested while the fate and whereabouts of the other nine remain unknown.
"The journalist's family is worried about his safety. States have a responsibility to protect lives of people and ensure that no one has to live through such uncertainty about their dear ones. Bangladesh authorities must immediately reveal the fate and whereabouts of Shafiqul Islam Kajol and release him if he is under State custody," said Saad Hammadi, South Asia Campaigner at Amnesty International.
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