Ruling party lawmaker Golam Maula Roni and his associates allegedly beat two journalists from Independent Television when they visited his office to investigate a suspected bribery at the city’s Topkhana Road on Saturday.
Imitaz Sony, a reporter, and Muhsin Mukul, a camera crewman from the private television channel, were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital with bruises on their bodies.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, the journalists claimed Roni had physically assaulted them himself, with the help of his associates, when they went at noon to Roni’s office at Saybold Group, housed at the ninth floor of Meherba Plaza.
They visited the office to investigate a Tk20m bribery allegation they had learned about from one of their sources, the journalists said.
On information, members of law enforcement agencies and journalist leaders rushed to aid Imitaz and Muhsin.
Meanwhile, the Independent Television authority has filed an attempt-to-murder case against Roni and 20 others unidentified people for the attack on the journalists.
Yunus Ali, an assistant manager of the television, lodged the case with Shahbag police. The charges brought against the accused include attempt to murder, vandalism and assault.
The journalists, who work for the crime-based weekly television programme “Talash,” claimed they had been confined inside the office after being severely beaten. The attackers also broke a video camera carried by the journalists.
However, Roni denied his involvement in the attack. He claimed the journalists had instead demanded Tk500,000 bribe from him when they visited the office.
The Awami League lawmaker told the journalist leaders he would bear the cost of treatment and provide the victims with other compensation, since "the incident occurred in front of his office."
Sirajul Islam, officer-in-charge of Shahbag police station, said the journalists visited Roni’s office based on information of a suspected bribery. He said both groups wanted to minimize the incident.
However, the victims said they would lodge a case with the police accusing the attackers.
