Journalists formed a human chain in Savar on Saturday to protest a case filed against Kamruzzaman Khan, former president of the Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association (CRAB), in connection with an arson attack on a parked bus in Savar.
The protesters described the case as “false and motivated” and demanded that Kamruzzaman’s name be dropped after a proper investigation.
The human chain was organised in front of the Savar Press Club in the afternoon, with journalists working for national and local newspapers, television channels and online news outlets taking part.
Speaking at the programme, journalists alleged that Kamruzzaman was not present at the scene when the bus was set on fire. They said he had been living in Dhaka for several years and questioned his alleged involvement in the incident.
They also alleged that the case is being used to divert attention from the actual perpetrators and called on law enforcement agencies to conduct a fair and impartial investigation.
Azim Uddin, an executive member of the Savar Press Club, alleged that Kamruzzaman had been deliberately implicated in the case. He urged law enforcement agencies to investigate the incident properly and identify those actually responsible.
Aklaqur Rahman Akash, an executive member of the press club and a journalist with The Daily Star, said journalists should not be unnecessarily implicated in cases without proper verification.
“The practice of deliberately implicating journalists in cases to put pressure on the media community and silence their voices must be stopped. It is deeply concerning that a case was filed against a professional and established journalist without proper verification or scrutiny,” he said.
Toukir Ahmed, former finance secretary of the Savar Press Club, called for an impartial investigation to identify the actual perpetrators and bring them to justice.
He said the journalist community would not accept harassment through false cases and warned that further protest programmes would be announced if similar incidents occurred.
Dewan Imon, general secretary of the Savar Upazila Journalists Association, questioned how Kamruzzaman, who he said had been living in Dhaka for a long time, could have been implicated in the case.
He called on journalists to remain united over the issue and said tougher protest programmes would be announced if their demands were not addressed.
Representatives of the Savar Press Club, journalists from national and local newspapers, television channels and online news outlets, and members of the local civil society attended the programme.
Among those present were Savar Press Club Vice-President Arifur Rahman; executive members Azim Uddin and Aklaqur Rahman Akash; Joint General Secretary Nadim Hossain; and press club members Nazmul Shahin, Selim Ahmed, Omar Faruk, Noman Mahmud, M A Halim, Toukir Ahmed and Kazi Mahbubur Rahman.
Dewan Imon, general secretary of the Savar Upazila Journalists Association, Rajib Mahmud of S TV; Robin of Dainik Janobani; Abdur Salam Rubel of Dainik Ajker Bashundhara; Rafiqul Islam Jillu of Dainik Bangla Bazar; Shahin of Dainik Gonokantha; Tushar of Savar Sangbad; and journalists Suman Parvez, Swapnoneel, Sharif, Abdul Khalek, Tipu, Masud Rana, Gopal Malakar and Khairul Abhi, among others.
