A day after three journalists were named in a case over last year’s July student movement in Feni’s Mohipal, the plaintiff withdrew his petition and the officer-in-charge (OC) of Sonagazi Model Police Station was transferred.

On Wednesday, Enayet Ullah filed the petition with the Senior Judicial Magistrate Court, accusing three journalists and 106 others of attempted murder during the July 2024 uprising. He alleged that the accused were involved in the shootings that killed nine and injured over 200 near the Mohipal flyover on August 4, 2024.

However, the plaintiff withdrew the petition today, when its hearing was scheduled.

Instead, Sonagazi Model Police Station OC Bayezid Akon was transferred to the district Detective Branch following allegations that he instigated the case against the journalists.

The development comes after several investigative reports published by UNB and Desh Rupantor highlighted alleged irregularities at the Sonagazi Model Police Station under headlines such as “Police station turned into arbitration hub” and “Trader framed in explosives case after mob attack in Sonagazi.”

Feni journalists sued over attack on July mass protests

The reports reportedly angered the OC, who allegedly prompted Enayet Ullah, a local Jubo Dal activist, to implicate Shafi Ullah Ripon, Feni correspondent for UNB and Desh Rupantor, along with two other local journalists, in the Mohipal case.

Local journalists strongly condemned the move, terming it an attempt to muzzle the press. On Wednesday night, the Feni Reporters’ Unit held an emergency meeting, calling the case a “dangerous conspiracy.” The following morning, about 50 journalists met with Feni Superintendent of Police Habibur Rahman to voice their concerns.

Journalist Ripon said he believed the case was an act of retaliation against his reports on police irregularities. “I was injured during the July movement myself and last year I received an award for courageous journalism,” he added.