Journo Iqbal's bail prayer rejected
Jashore newsmen protest 'false' case against him
A court in Jashore yesterday ordered sending Iqbal Kabir, staff correspondent of Jashore-based Bangla daily Spondon, to jail after rejecting his bail prayer.
The Court of Senior Judicial Magistrate Goutam Mallick also rejected the prayer for his five-day remand submitted by the police.
Bagharpara police on Monday detained Iqbal, also president of Bagharpara Press Club in Jashore, from a meeting on law and order ahead of the Durga Puja.
Later police filed a case against Iqbal on charges of 'creating obstruction to discharging government duty by physically attacking police and hurting religious feelings'.
Chandan Das, general secretary of Bagharpara Press Club, said, “Police called Kabir 10 minutes before a meeting between local Puja Udjapan Parishad leaders and police on Monday noon. He was having a chat with policemen in a friendly way. Additional Superintendent of Police Golam Rabbani took it seriously and ordered police to detain him.”
It is not believable that Kabir beat policemen on the police station premises, Chandan said.
“Iqbal Kabir fell victim to the wrath of police as he published report on their corruption on different occasions. A few people against whom he published reports have been made witness in the false case against him,” said Shikder Khalid, news editor of the Dainik Spondon.
Our Benapole Correspondent adds: Journalists formed a human chain in front of Jashore Press Club yesterday protesting the arrest of journalist Iqbal Kabir in a 'false case'.