Family of journalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol, who went missing on Tuesday, urged the government to ensure his safe return.
Kajol’s son Monoram Polok and wife Julia Ferdouse Nayan made the demand while speaking to reporters at the National Press Club on Friday evening.
Kajol is one of the accused in the case filed against Manab Zamin Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury and 31 others under the Digital Security Act.
Kajol’s son Polok told Dhaka Tribune that his father left their Bakshibazar home in Dhaka for his office in Hatirpool Bazar at around 3 pm on March 10.
"When we tried to contact him at 11pm that day, we found that both his phones were turned off," he said.
"We filed a general diary (GD) with the Chawkbazar police station the next day. Police said they are looking into the matter but they are not contacting us on their own accord. We have told them everything that we know," said Polok.
He further said two Detective Branch (DB) officials came to their home on March 12 around 48 hours after the incident and talked to them.
"We gave them all the information they wanted but they did not provide us with any information about my father," Polok added.
"So far we were able to find out that my father was last seen with his fellow journalist Mujahid around 6:40 pm in the Hatirpool area and he left saying that there was a problem somewhere and he had to go there to solve it. He has been missing since then," he said.
Responding a question, Polok said his father does not stay anywhere without informing them first.
"He does not have any enemies and no one has ever threatened him," Polok said to the journalists present.
"We found out about the case filed against my father, along with Manab Zamin Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury and 31 others under the Digital Security Act, after he went missing. I do not know if my father is aware of it or not," he continued.
Kajol’s wife Julia said: “I appeal to the Prime Minister to take necessary actions so that my husband returns home safe and sound. I strongly believe that in the current era of technology, finding him is not a difficult task for law enforcement agencies."
Sajjad Alam Khan Tapu, the general secretary of the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), said: “No citizen of this state can go missing. If someone does go missing, it is the duty of the state to find them, and ensure their safe return to their family."
Kajol is the editor of the fortnightly Pakkhokal and he worked at the dailies Samakal and Bonik Barta as a photo-journalist.