Journalists attacked while on duty
Two journalists from Rangpur came under attack in Dinajpur’s Birganj upazila yesterday afternoon when they went there on professional duty.
The attackers also damaged a camera when the journalists -- Nazmul Islam Nishat, Rangpur correspondent of private television channel DBC; and Farhaduzzaman Faruk, staff correspondent of Rangpur Barta24.com -- went to Sluice Gate area in the upazila to gather information regarding alleged irregularities at Swapnatori Agro Services Limited (SASL).
Speaking with journalists, Nazmul and Farhaduzzaman alleged that Sajidur Rahman Ontu, joint convener of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) in Birganj upazila; Shuva Sarkar, accountant of SASL; and Russell, auditor of SASL; physically assaulted them and took away their cameras from them.
Later, the attackers forced them to leave the spot, they also said.
Shakila Parvin, officer-in-charge of Birganj Police Station, said the two journalists informed her of the attack on them and they would take necessary action once a case is filed in this connection.
According to locals, a group of unscrupulous people established Swapnatori Agro Services Limited in the area and collected over Tk 50 crore from around 1,200 unsuspecting people in Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Rangpur, with the promise of high returns for their deposits.
Although their deposits already matured, SASL did not return the money to any investor, they alleged.
This correspondent tried to reach the SASL officials and the BCL leader concerned for their comments over phone, but none of them answered his repeated calls.
Comments