Two journalists were harassed and another one threatened by police in separate incidents in the capital yesterday.
They are Samakal’s Staff Correspondent Indrajit Sarker, Bangladesh Pratidin’s Senior Correspondent Sakhawat Hossain Kawser and Independent TV’s Senior Broadcast Journalist Mahbub Alam Lablu.
Indrajit said Ali, a constable of Ramna police, grabbed him by his collar and dragged him onto a police van as he was bargaining with a rickshaw puller over fare in Moghbazar.
“The policeman chided me and also threatened with torture. When I showed my identity card, he snatched it and threw it away. He was also uttering offensive words,” said Indrajit, who later informed senior journalists and police officers of the matter.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police acting deputy commissioner (media and public relations) SM Jahangir Alam Sarker said the constable’s suspension had been ordered.
Bangladesh Pratidin’s Sakhawat said he stopped his motorcycle near Officers’ Club in Ramna after Sergeant Shamsuzzaman signalled him. The sergeant and a constable then snatched the motorbike key without saying anything.
Sakhawat protested the act but the policemen threatened him and threw derogatory words at him.
The third victim, Mahbub, was threatened with death by a group of men who identified themselves as plainclothes police and were carrying firearms.
The journalist said he was in a microbus in Moghbazar and protested when a black car carrying the men was honking loudly. “They showed me firearms and threatened to kill me.”
Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association protested all three incidents and called for action against the offenders after proper investigations. ADC Jahangir said the DMP commissioner had been informed of the incidents and he had ordered officials to take action.
