The Bangladesh authorities must conduct a swift and impartial investigation into the killing of journalist Mohiuddin Sarkar Naeem and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on Tuesday.
CPJ ranked Bangladesh 11th on its global impunity index in 2021, which tracks countries where the murderers of journalists escape justice.
Mohiuddin, who was allegedly shot and killed by narcotics dealers, was a reporter for the local newspaper “Dainik Cumillar Dak” in Comilla, about 60 miles southeast of Dhaka.
Mohiuddin had covered narcotics trafficking prior to his killing and said police had arrested four suspects, according to news reports.
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Steven Butler, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator in Washington, said: “The killing of Bangladeshi journalist Mohiuddin Sarkar Naeem is a tragedy that must be thoroughly investigated and its perpetrators brought to justice.
“The authorities must prosecute those responsible and work to end Bangladesh’s terrible record of allowing those who murder journalists to remain free.”
On April 14, Mohiuddin’s mother told officers at the local Burichang police station that she believed a suspected narcotics dealer named Razu, who uses one name, was the main culprit in her son’s killing.
She also named six others, according to news reports.
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On April 16, Razu was killed in a gunfight with the Rapid Action Battalion, according to those reports.
Reports said that Mohiuddin had also informed law enforcement officials about drug trafficking.
Police did not respond to CPJ’s request for comment sent via messaging app.