Journo beaten up over report

A local journalist in Jamalpur was attacked allegedly by some followers of Jamalpur Zilla Parishad member Sheela Sarwar and Bagarchar Union Parishad Chairman Siddiqur Rahman yesterday.

This incident happened in front of Bakshiganj Upazila Parishad where Roni went after getting a phone call from Sheela.

Victim Rashedul Islam Roni, 45, of Bagarchar village in the upazila, is the upazila correspondent of the daily Bhorer Kagoj.

Contacted, Roni said, "Recently, the chairman of Bagarchar Union, Siddiqur Rahman Siddique, beat up a local journalist over a trivial matter and I reported the incident.

"After publishing the news, Chairman Siddiqur Rahman was angry with me."

Sheela and Siddiqur asked him to go to Bakshiganj Upazila Parishad to settle the matter. As he reached there, Sheela's car driver, bodyguard and some supporters of Siddiqur started beating him and snatched his mobile phone and money, Roni alleged.

Hearing his screams, locals came and took him to Bakshiganj Health Complex where he was undergoing treatment.

Contacted, Zilla Parishad member Sheela Sarwar denied all allegations saying that journalist Roni had made her video viral on social media after editing.

She called Roni to know about the video posted on his Facebook.

Echoing Sheela, Siddiqur also said that his supporters did not assault Roni.

Sohel Rana, officer-in-Charge of Bakshiganj Police Station, said, "We have not received any complaint. We came to know about the matter from a social media post."