A case has been filed at the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court following the alleged abduction, confinement, intimidation, and financial exploitation of journalist Kamruzzaman Bablu.
According to the complaint and his account of the incident, Bablu was lured to the Postogola area of the capital, held at gunpoint, taken to an unknown location, and threatened with death by armed men who also looted his belongings and emptied his bank and mobile financial service (MFS) accounts.
Bablu is a special correspondent for the national Daily Adin and a permanent member of the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU). He has previously worked for The New Nation, Jaijaidin, ManabZamin, and Daily Jugantor.
Additionally, he serves as the Office Secretary of the Political Reporters Forum (PRF), and is a former Welfare Secretary of the DRU, former General Secretary of the Religious Reporters Forum (RRF), and former Joint Secretary of the Cumilla Journalists Forum, Dhaka (CJFD).
According to the complaint, Bablu became acquainted around two months ago with a Facebook Messenger account operating under the name “Mamun Sheikh.”
The individual allegedly introduced himself as an information source and offered to provide Bablu with details regarding Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin) and other issues.
On 30 September, Mamun reportedly asked Bablu to meet him in the capital’s Jurain area, saying he was staying at a relative’s house there.
They met around 2:30pm in front of Alam Market near Postogola Bridge, where Mamun introduced Bablu to another man identified as “Anik.”
Bablu alleged that the two later persuaded him to get into a microbus, saying they wanted to talk in a secluded place. Three other people were allegedly already inside the vehicle. Soon after he got in, he was allegedly held at gunpoint, blindfolded, and restrained.
The vehicle travelled for about three to three-and-a-half hours before reaching a remote, forested area.
According to his complaint, armed men present at the location threatened him with death and questioned him regarding his Facebook posts concerning the government and Sheikh Hasina.
Bablu further alleged that his phone, bank cards, and other belongings were taken, and money was withdrawn from his accounts.
According to his statement, when his wife called him around 9pm, he was forced to speak normally, but she sensed that something was wrong and informed his relatives, who subsequently contacted Paltan Police Station.
Police attempted to contact Bablu between around 9:30 pm and 10:00 pm, but he was not allowed to answer. Later, at around 2:30 am, he was allowed to speak with his wife and a police officer in the presence of the alleged abductors.
Recounting the incident, Bablu said, “I was invited after being promised important information because I am a journalist. Later, I was held at gunpoint, blindfolded and taken to an unknown location, where I was threatened with death,” adding, “Eventually, I managed to escape and save my life.”
Tushar Debnath, sub-inspector of Paltan Police Station, confirmed to reporters that Bablu had approached the police with allegations of abduction, confinement, intimidation, and financial exploitation.
The incident has drawn strong condemnation from the DRU, PRF, RRF, and CJFD. In separate statements issued on Tuesday, the organisations demanded an immediate and impartial investigation, the arrest of those involved, and exemplary punishment.
The journalist organisations urged authorities to examine bank transactions, ATM footage, MFS records, mobile numbers, and IMEI data to identify and arrest those responsible, whilst also calling for security for Bablu and his family.
