Attack against a journalist during a live broadcast: an accused BMDA employee promoted

Varendra Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) has promoted a defendant accused of assaulting two journalists from the private television station ATN News during a live broadcast in Rajshahi. On Monday, September 26, BMDA secretary Sharif Ahmed signed the promotion order for 31 people. The name of Salim Raza, the accused in the attack on journalists, is number 14 on this list! Local journalists expressed surprise and anger.

It is learned that Salim Reza has been promoted to office assistant and computer operator from office assistant at BMDA headquarters. He was an office assistant in the office of Abdur Rashid, executive director of the BMDA. Executive Director Abdur Rashid, the main defendant in the case, also walks around in public. But police say he will be arrested as soon as he is found.

BMDA secretary Sharif Ahmed said the secretary only signed the office order regarding the promotion of the defendant in the beatings of journalists case. The decision is already made. The secretary advised to speak to the executive director. But executive director Abdur Rashid did not receive the phone.

Bulbul Habib, Rajshahi correspondent of ATN News, who has come under attack in this regard, said: “I don’t understand, how does a defendant in a criminal case get promoted? Are they above the law? What kind of arbitrariness and irresponsibility can happen to an autonomous institution! »

Rajshahi Television Journalists Association President Mehdi Hasan Shyamal said, “We will not accept such injustice towards journalists. If all the defendants in the case are not arrested and brought to justice, then I will announce a larger program.

It should be noted that on September 5, ATN News correspondent in Rajshahi, Bulbul Habib, and cameraman Rubel Islam were attacked at the BMDA office. BMDA officials were attacked while broadcasting the incident live because they failed to report to the office according to the new schedule set by the government. Apparently the employees carried out the attack on the orders of the executive director. Two journalists were beaten and cameras and microphones were smashed.

Two BMDA employees were immediately suspended. Later that night, Bulbul Habib filed a complaint against 10 unidentified people, including the names of seven people. After that, the police arrested two people who were suspended, but the others are still at large. Rajshahi journalists have organized various protest programs.