Journalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol, one of the accused in the case filed against Manabzamin Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury and 31 others under the Digital Security Act, has been missing since Tuesday.
Kajol’s son Monorom Palak told Dhaka Tribune that his father left home at Bakshibazar in Dhaka around 3pm on Tuesday and since then had remained missing. “We could not establish any contact with him and his mobile phone was found switched off.
The family has filed a general diary (GD) with Lalbagh police station in this connection.
Kajol, editor of the fortnightly Pakkhokal, worked at the dailies Samakal and BonikBarta as a photo-journalist.
On Tuesday, Magura 1 constituency lawmaker Md Shifuzzaman Shikhor filed the case against some individuals with Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station for publishing and sharing a news article on social media regarding expelled Jubo Mohila League leader Shamima Noor Papia.
However, Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Md. Masudur Rahman on Thursday denied arresting the journalist in connection with the case.
Meanwhile, Ain O Salish Kendro (ASK), the human rights organization, expressed grave concern over the case filed under the Digital Security Act and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the case.
Amnesty International has also urged the authorities to drop the case.