On-duty journos attacked

Four journalists came under attack from a group of Awami League (AL) activists when they were collecting news on a construction work at Kuthibari of Rabindranath Tagore in Kushtia yesterday.
The ruling party men beat them up and smashed their cameras. They also held the journalists hostage for an hour after tying them to a tree.
The injured are Touhidi Hasan of Bangla daily Prothom Alo, Hasan Belal, local correspondent of channel Rtv, Zohurul Islam of Ekushey Television (ETV), and cameraman Sajib Ahmed of ETV.
Police arrested AL activists Nizam Uddin and Labu from Kumarkhali bazaar in this connection.
Police said four journalists went to Kuthibari to collect news on the progress of the construction work of a replica of Tagore's boat around 11:30 am.
Soon a group of 8-10 men led by cultural secretary of AL Kushtia town unit Mohammad Ali, also the contractor of the replica, barred them from taking photographs, locals said.
As the journalists protested the incident, AL men started beating them up and later held them hostage after tying them to a tree, they said.
On information, Kumarkhali police rushed in and rescued the journalists with the help of local people.
“We went to the spot following information that the construction work of a replica of Tagore's boat was not being carried out according to the work order,” said Rtv correspondent Belal.
“The criminals smashed our three cameras,” he added.
Zohurul and Sajib were rushed to Kumarkhali Upazila Health Complex while Touhidi was taken to Kushtia General Hospital, police said.
Asgor Ali, general secretary of Kushtia district unit AL, admitted that the incident had happened. He said stern action will be taken against those involved in the incident.
Atiar Rahman, OC of the police station, said a case has been filed against 15 people in this connection.