Police arrested bdnews24.com journalist Asaduzzaman Asad in Sharsha, Jashore, due to a name similarity with an Awami League (AL) leader.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Nabharan Circle) Arif Hossain confirmed the matter. He was arrested from his residence on Sunday night in connection with a sabotage case filed in 2025.
His family claims that while he was once a lecturer at Sharsha Government Mohila College and now works solely in journalism, he served as the education secretary of the Upazila AL committee prior to 2023. He vacated the post when the college was nationalised and never held the position of organising secretary.
Shilpi Begum, Asaduzzaman’s sister, said, “At around 2am, the police entered the house, and they forced us to open the door. Due to a name similarity, the police have shown the journalist Asaduzzaman arrested in a 2025 case instead of the political leader Asaduzzaman Asad.”
She added that the police could not produce any documents or provide a satisfactory answer when asked about the reason for the detention.
However, the police said Asaduzzaman admitted to being the organising secretary of the Upazila AL.
ASP Arif added that Asaduzzaman was detained during a special operation based on information that leaders and activists of AL were planning sabotage in various parts of the district, including Sharsha.
According to the police, he did not identify himself as a journalist at the time of detention, though they later learned of his profession. In response to a query, the police official noted that the Personal Assistant (PS) to the former Member of Parliament for Jashore-1 (Sharsha), Sheikh Afil Uddin, is also named Asaduzzaman Asad.
However, that individual held no position in the Upazila Awami League and is fugitive.
As news of the arrest spread, journalists working in various media outlets gathered at Sharsha Police Station from Monday. They expressed anger and protested the incident, demanding his immediate release. They expressed concern over the arrest of a working journalist and urged the authorities to consider the matter with importance.
General Secretary of Benapole Press Club and Staff Reporter for Somoy TV Azizul Haque said, “The fact that handcuffs are placed on the hands of those who hold a pen to highlight various inconsistencies and irregularities in society is as sad for the journalist community as it raises questions for the state.”
The case in which Asaduzzaman was arrested was filed at Sharsha Police Station on 1 October 2025 by Aynal Huq, president of ward number 4 of Sharsha Union BNP.
The complaint alleges that on 28 September of that year, activists of the local Chhatra League and affiliated organisations created traffic obstructions, chanted anti-government slogans, and attempted to damage roads, culverts, and state property while celebrating the birthday of ousted Sheikh Hasina.
Although seven members of the local AL were named in the case along with 20-25 unidentified individuals, no one named Asaduzzaman is among those seven named accused.
