Attack on Rajshahi journos: 2 BMDA staffers arrested from Dhaka

Police arrested two staffers of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) from Dhaka early today (September 19, 2022) in connection with the attack on two journalists of ATN News.

The arrestees are Jibon Ahmed, a storekeeper and general secretary of BMDA Employees Union Abdus Sabur; and Abdur Rashid, a driver of BMDA's executive director, reports our local correspondent quoting Zahangir Alam, Officer-in-Charge of Rajpara Police Station.

They were arrested from a house in Mohammadpur area in Dhaka and were brought back to Rajshahi at 7am, the OC said.

Both of them were suspended by the BMDA following the protests by journalists.

They were among the seven persons whose name were mentioned in the case filed for assaulting two journalists -- Bulbul Habib and Md Rubel Islam.

Islam, cameraperson of ATN News, and Bulbul Habib, a reporter for ATN News and The Business Standard, were attacked on September 5 when they were broadcasting live on how officials reacting to the new office timings.

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Report on office timings: 2 journos attacked by BMDA staffers

BMDA Executive Director Abdur Rashid who came office half an hour late rebuked the journalists and asked them to leave by pushing them aside.

Moments later, some 17 BMDA employees swooped on the two journalists.

Bulbul filed a case with Rajpara Police Station accusing seven BMDA staffers including the executive director, Abdur Rashid.

He also mentioned ten unnamed persons were involved with the attack on them.