Two journalists lodged a general diary (GD) on Monday against Gandaria Chhatra League president Shahidul Islam Khan Riad over allegations of harassment during the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayoral elections held last Saturday.
Nurul Amin Jahangir, staff reporter at The Business Standard, and Mahbub Momtaje, a reporter of Bangladesh Pratidin, lodged the GD with Gandaria Police Station the day after the Chhatra league leader Riad filed a GD against them.
Riad lodged the GD first on Sunday over a news published in Bangladesh Pratidin on February 2, titled, “Attack, harassment of journalist.” Riad claimed the incident in the news is “completely false and fabricated,” alleging that “the defendants were working as agents of BNP-Jamaat.”
The news published was regarding an attack on the two above mentioned journalists at Jamia Arabia Imdadul Uloom Faridabad Madrasa polling center under DSCC’s ward 46, where they went to cover voting news.
According to the news, these journalists took photographs and took comments from two voters who were allegedly driven out of the center by Riad. Later, Riad allegedly snatched away their mobile phones and physically assaulted them, confining them inside the center for over one hour.
During the incident, he was allegedly carrying a gun with him.
The journalists were later released when DMP’s (Wari zone) Assistant Commissioner (AC) Hannanul Islam arrived at the spot and requested Riad to set the journalists free. The news also said photographs and other data were also deleted from their phones by Riad.
Regarding allegations against them of being agents of BNP-Jamaat, reporter Nurul Amin Jahangir said: “The allegations are baseless."
“We have lodged a GD against them, asking for security. But there is no guarantee that he will not attack us again,” he added.
Commenting about filing the GD two days after the attack, Jahangir said: "There was a matter of decision. The area was not safe for us then. The leaders of CRAB (Crime Reporters' Association of Bangladesh) said they would come to a decision together after a meeting. They took the decision today (Monday).”
On the other hand, when asked about how he was so sure about the journalists being BNP-Jamaat agents, Riad said: “Actually, there is no proof of anything. I do not want to say anything about it. I am under tremendous pressure.”
He then refused to comment about the alleged attack and allegations against him.
When asked about the assault, DMP’s (Wari zone) Assistant Commissioner Hannanul Islam said: “There was conflict between two councilor candidates, that is why I rushed to the spot (the polling center). The two journalists, whom I know from earlier, told me that their phones were snatched away by him (Riad). I told Riad to return the phone.”
Chhatra League’s central committee suspended Riad on Monday for his “alleged involvement with the untoward incident on January 1, 2020” for “violating the party's code of conduct.”
