Jamaat men attacks on journalist in Kushtia

A journalist was allegedly severely beaten by activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami while collecting information about alleged irregularities in a road construction project in Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia on Saturday.

The road construction work was allegedly being controlled by Shovon, son of Afzal Hossain, the Jamaat-backed lawmaker from Kushtia-4, and his associates, according to local sources and the journalist.

The journalist was identified as Mahbubul Ahsan Ullash, Kumarkhali-Khoksa correspondent of Bangla TV and general secretary of Kumarkhali Press Club.

He was taken to Kumarkhali Upazila Health Complex for treatment following the incident.

The incident occurred around 12:30pm when Ullash went to the area to collect information about allegations that low-quality bricks, sand and stone chips were being used in the construction of a municipal road.

Ullash alleged that a group of 20 to 25 Jamaat men attacked and beat him while he was gathering information at the construction site. He said relatives of Afzal Hossain, the Jamaat-backed lawmaker from Kushtia-4, were among the alleged attackers.

One account specifically named the lawmaker’s son Shovon and cousin Anwar, while another described the alleged attackers as the MP’s brothers and nephews.

However, Shovon denied involvement, saying he had not left his home that day and that Ullash was his distant uncle.

The incident came against the backdrop of an earlier administrative intervention over the same road project.

Kumarkhali Upazila Nirbahi Officer Farzana Akhter said the administration had previously asked the contractor to stop the work following complaints about the use of substandard materials.

When the work allegedly resumed without permission, she went to the site and stopped the construction again on Saturday.

“I went there and stopped the construction work. After I left, I heard that a journalist had been assaulted,” she said.

Officer-in-Charge of Kumarkhali Police Station Jamal Uddin confirmed the incident, saying an altercation occurred while the journalist was collecting information and he was subsequently assaulted.

He said police went to the spot and tried to control the situation, but the large number of people involved made it difficult to intervene immediately.

Police have identified those allegedly involved and legal proceedings are under way, he said.

The assault has sparked anger among journalists in Kushtia, with leaders and colleagues of the local journalist community demanding an investigation and legal action against those responsible.

Kumarkhali Press Club President Khondokar Mofizur Rahman MR Shahin said journalists wanted those involved in the incident brought to justice. He said journalists were preparing to file a case and warned of demonstrations if action was not taken within 24 hours.

Kushtia Police Superintendent Aminul Islam told the Daily Sun that those allegedly involved had been identified and action would be taken according to law.

“A case is being filed in this regard,” he added.