Assault of journalist: 2 Ansar members ‘closed’, probe body formed

Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party has "closed" two members of the force who allegedly assaulted a photojournalist of a Bangla daily newspaper alongside a private university student on the premises of Mugda General Hospital in Dhaka on Friday.

The force also formed a three-member body to investigate the incident and asked it to submit a report within three working days, according to a statement of the force issued yesterday.

Departmental action will be taken against the involved Ansar members if they are found guilty once the probe body submits report, read the statement signed by Mehnaz Tabassum Rabin, assistant director of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Party.

The statement also mentioned that the senior officials of the force directed the officers concerned to take action against the responsible Ansar members soon after they learned about the incident.

Besides, Major General Kazi Sharif Kaikobad, director general of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Party, instructed all officers, employees and members of the force not to treat any journalist with disrespect, the statement added.

On Friday, Ansar members at Mugda General Hospital allegedly assaulted photojournalist Rubel Rashid of Bangla daily Desh Rupantor as he was taking photos during a clash that broke out between Ansar men and suspected Covid-19 patients on the hospital premises.

Rubel Rashid said the Ansar men were beating up Shawon Hossain, a private university student who was waiting in queue to have his and his mother's samples collected for Covid-19 test.

Rubel and Joyeeta Roy, photojournalists of Bangla daily Bangladesh Protidin, were taking photos of the incident at that time.

Joyeeta tried to intervene as they were dragging Shawon inside the hospital premises. She ducked when the Ansar men tried to hit her.

Noticing Rubel Rashid taking photos of the incident, the Ansar members physically assaulted him and broke his camera equipment.

The incident drew flak after it was published in news and social media.