A journalist from Jamuna Television was allegedly beaten by a deputy commissioner (DC) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) inside Khulshi Police Station on Sunday (October 12) morning while gathering news.
The victim, Jobayed Ibn Shahadat, a staff correspondent for Jamuna TV, alleged that DC (North) Amirul Islam assaulted him in a room at the station. His cameraperson, Asaduzzaman Limon, was also reportedly harassed during the incident.
Following the event, journalists in Chattogram held an immediate protest rally in front of Khulshi Police Station, demanding the withdrawal of the accused police official.
Recounting the ordeal, the injured Jobayed Ibn Shahadat said he went to Khulshi Police Station to collect information regarding individuals detained following a clash over a concert in the GEC area. He claimed police officials obstructed him as he was speaking to the families of the detainees.
“As I was leaving, police members pushed me to the ground and started beating me indiscriminately,” Jobayed alleged. “They said, ‘You are a fascist. We are not beating you, we are beating Satan’.”
Jobayed claimed DC Amirul Islam led the assault, which left him with serious injuries to his eye, face, and ear.
The incident triggered an immediate response from the port city’s journalist community. Leaders and members of the Chattogram Union of Journalists (CUJ), Chattogram Press Club, and other organisations gathered in front of Khulshi Police Station for the protest.
From the rally, journalist leaders demanded the immediate withdrawal of DC Amirul Islam from his duties and called for legal and departmental action against him.
In a joint statement, Chattogram Union of Journalists (CUJ) President Riaz Hyder Chowdhury and General Secretary Sabur Shuvo condemned the attack as “barbaric” and a “direct assault on media freedom.” They warned of stricter programmes if action is not taken against the accused officer.
Others who spoke at the protest rally included CUJ Joint Secretary Omar Faruk, Chattogram Press Club Joint Secretary Shahidullah Shahriar, and Chattogram TV Reporters Network Convener Hossain Ziad.
Also present were Chattogram TV Journalist Association Secretary Latifa Ansari Runa, CUJ TV Unit Chief Tohidul Alam, Chattogram TV Reporters Network Member Secretary AK Azad, TV Camera Journalist Association Secretary Ashraful Alam Mamun, Jamuna TV Bureau Chief Jamshed Rehman, Independent TV Bureau Chief Alamgir Sabuj, Star TV Bureau Chief Emdadul Hoque, and Jago News Bureau Chief Iqbal Hossain.
Meanwhile, the Chattogram Television Reporters Network (CTRN) issued a 24-hour ultimatum for action against the accused police officer.
In a statement on Sunday, the CTRN strongly condemned the “indecent behaviour and physical torture” inflicted upon their member, Jobayed Ibne Shahadat, by DC Amirul Islam while he was performing his professional duties.
“Such behaviour by the police with a journalist on duty is an extreme threat to media freedom and journalist safety,” the statement read. “Taking journalist Jobayed Ibn Shahadat inside the police station and insulting and beating him is an extreme violation of professional dignity.”
The organisation warned that the journalist community would be “forced to launch a larger movement” if a proper investigation is not conducted and action is not taken against the responsible officer.
The statement was signed by CTRN Convener Hossain Ziad, Joint Convener AK Azad, and executive members Arich Ahmed Shah, Fakhrul Islam, Syed Tammim Mahmud, Ferdous Lipe, and Shahidul Sumon.
