Six journalists from Feni have been left out of the list of people injured in the July-August mass protests during the student-public movement against discrimination.
The journalists are Rafiqul Islam, correspondent for Bangla Vision and Bangla Tribune, Md. Shafi Ullah Ripon, correspondent for Daily Desh Rupantor and UNB, Mofizur Rahman, correspondent for Daily Dinkal, Kamal Uddin Bhuiyan, editor of Feni Gaurab, Amjadur Rahman, editor of Ajker Feni, and Hasnat Tuhin, correspondent for Daily Jobabdihi.
They were hurt during a clash in Mahipal on August 4.
Earlier, on January 1, the Health Services Division issued a notice to prepare the final list of martyrs and injured people from the student-public uprising. The families of the injured and deceased were asked to apply with necessary documents by January 31.
The six journalists who were injured in the clash applied, but the verification committee left their names out and sent others to the District Commissioner.
Kamrul Hasan, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Sonagazi, said that two student members of the five-person committee said they didn’t know the journalists.
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Student representative Nahidul Islam said that only those who were directly involved in the student movement would be included. He said the journalists didn’t protest and if they were hurt while covering the news, the NSI-DSB would look into their cases.
Rafiqul Islam, one of the journalists, said he was in the hospital for three days after being hurt in the clash on August 4. He doesn’t know why his name wasn’t included on the list, even though he sent his hospital documents.
Shafi Ullah Ripon, another journalist, said there was video proof of the clash, as well as documents showing his injuries and a bike that was damaged during an attack. Despite this, his name was removed from the list.
Out of 22 people who applied from Sonagazi Upazila, 21 were included in the list. A total of 406 injured people from different professions were added to the list from the student-public movement in Feni.
Dr. Shihab Uddin, the Civil Surgeon, said that after receiving the list from the Upazila Committee, the information was uploaded online to the Health Services Division’s system.
Deputy Commissioner Saiful Islam said that if there is a reason for the rejection, the case will be sent to the Health Services Department or the Ministry for further review.