The Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association (CRAB) on Thursday formed a human chain demanding the withdrawal of what it called a false case against its former president Kamruzzaman Khan.
Kamruzzaman, a former president and general secretary of CRAB and a senior reporter at the TIMES of Bangladesh, was named in the case filed with Savar Model Police Station.
CRAB leaders gave police a 10-day ultimatum to remove Kamruzzaman’s name from the case and demanded legal action against those allegedly involved in having him implicated.
The human chain was held in the afternoon on the premises of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in Segunbagicha, Dhaka.
Speakers alleged that Kamruzzaman had been made an accused in the case although he was not present at the scene of the incident. They demanded a swift investigation and the removal of his name from the case.
The programme was presided over by CRAB President Mirza Mehdi Tamal and conducted by General Secretary MM Badshah.
Among those who spoke were former general secretaries Alauddin Arif and Mahbub Alam Lablu, Sarwar Alam, Organising Secretary Nihal Hasnain, International Affairs Secretary Habibullah Mizan, former organising secretary Shahriar Arif, Finance Secretary Aminul Islam, senior members Ikramul Kabir Tipu, Ismail Hossain Imu, Saiful Islam, Nadia Sharmin, Saiful Jewel, Golam Mostafa Dhruvo and Sushanta Saha.
Former CRAB president SM Abul Hossain, former vice-president Sabbir Mahmud, current office-bearers and other members of the organisation were also present.
CRAB President Mirza Mehdi Tamal alleged that the case against Kamruzzaman was fabricated and false. He said Kamruzzaman was at Police Headquarters performing professional duties at the time of the incident mentioned in the case.
He demanded an investigation into how Kamruzzaman was made an accused despite being elsewhere at the time.
Tamal said authorities should also examine whether proper verification had been carried out before the case was filed. Calling on the police administration to take prompt steps to withdraw the case, he warned that CRAB would announce tougher programmes unless Kamruzzaman’s name was removed within 10 days.
Former CRAB general secretary Mahbub Alam Lablu said journalists had previously been forced to take to the streets to protest what he described as fabricated cases, repression and harassment.
He said it was regrettable that journalists once again had to take to the streets under changed circumstances to demand the withdrawal of a case against a colleague.
Lablu said the government had stated that the preliminary authenticity of allegations was verified before cases were filed.
He questioned whether such verification had been carried out in Kamruzzaman’s case and demanded an investigation into how the case was filed and whether anyone had instigated his inclusion.
Speakers at the human chain said journalists were neither rivals nor enemies of anyone and carried out their work in the interests of the country and its people by bringing facts to light. They said no journalist should face harassment for carrying out professional duties.
The speakers said investigators should have established whether Kamruzzaman was present at the scene before naming him as an accused.
They demanded action against anyone found responsible if his name had been included in the case without proper investigation.
CRAB members also called for an end to what they described as harassment through cases against journalists and urged the authorities concerned to ensure journalists’ safety and legal protection.
The human chain demanded the immediate withdrawal of the case against Kamruzzaman and an assurance that he would not face further harassment.
Speakers also called for investigations into what they described as harassment cases filed against journalists and for necessary action to be taken over such cases.
