DSA: Journo held in Pabna for ‘harassing municipality councillor on Facebook’

The Detective Branch (DB) of police today arrested a journalist for allegedly harassing a municipality councilor on Facebook.  

KM Belal Hossain Shopon. Photo: Collected

The arrest came after a case was filed under the Digital Security Act by the councillor in Pabna's Chatmohar upazila.

The arrestee is KM Belal Hossain Shopon (55), editor of the weekly Somoy Asomoy and president of Chatmohar Upazila Reporters' Unity, and also president of Chatmohar upazila unit of traders' association, said Tozammel Haque, officer-in-charge of Detective Branch (DB) of police in Pabna.

Raj Ali, incumbent councillor of Chatmohar Municipality's Ward-4 and also a pro-ruling party candidate in the upcoming municipality election, filed the case against Belal Hossain Shopon with Chatmohar Police Station under the Digital Security Act last night, the DB official said.  

After filing of the case, DB police arrested Belal from his residence this afternoon and took him to Pabna DB office, OC Tozammel said.

"Police are investigating the case. The arrestee will be produced before the court on Sunday morning," he added.

Talking to The Daily Star, Rokibur Rahman Tukun, president of Chatmohar Press Club, said Belal Hossain Shopon had been working for the complainant's rival candidate in the upcoming municipality elections.

Belal had made a post on Facebook about the councillor and later removed it on Friday. If he is not found guilty, then he should be released, Tukun added.