journalist
Assault on Faridpur journo: Main accused held
Rab members have detained Japan Mollah, main accused in a case over assaulting a journalist in Faridpur, from a house in the capital’s Jatrabari area Wednesday evening.
Japan is the younger brother of Saifur Rahman Saifar, mayor of Alfadanga municipality in Faridpur.
According to witnesses, Mujahidul Islam Naim, staff correspondent of Dhaka Times and organizing secretary of Faridpur Press Club, was attacked by Japan and some other miscreants on Monday over a trifling matter.
The attackers beat him up mercilessly with rod, cricket stumps and locally-made weapon, leaving him critically injured.
Read: Sunamganj journalist assault: 1 more held
He was first admitted to Alfadanga Upazila Health Complex and shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) for better treatment.
A case was filed with Alfadanga Police Station in this regard on Tuesday. Police detained a suspect named Parul Begum who was later produced before the court and sent to jail.
Tekhnaf UNO withdrawn from post for foul-mouthing journo: Cabinet secretary
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Kaisar Khusru has been withdrawn from his post and made an officer on special duty (OSD) in a punitive administrative action for verbally abusing a local journalist over phone.
Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said, “We’ve already instructed to withdraw him, making him OSD immediately. And then action will be taken against him as per the instructions to be given by the High Court.”
He was replying to a question during a media briefing on Monday’s Cabinet meeting.
Also read: HC calls Teknaf UNO ‘wrongheaded’ over verbal abuse of journalists
The divisional commissioners have also been instructed to sit with field level officers to discuss their etiquette and behavior, said the Cabinet secretary.
Meanwhile, the Cox’s Bazar district administration on Sunday issued a show-cause notice to Khosru asking for his explanation.
On Thursday last, the accused UNO called journalist Saidul Farhad over phone and harassed him verbally questioning why he wrote a report against the houses constructed under the Ashrayan-2 project seen as the prime minister’s gift to the homeless people.
As an audio record of the call that went viral on social media sparked huge criticism.
Later on Friday Cox’s Bazar DC held a meeting with the journalist and UNO to resolve the issue.
On Sunday, the High Court said that 'no one but a wrongheaded person can talk like this' as a lawyer brought its attention to a media report on the UNO’s act.
Also read: 89.51pc Cabinet decisions implemented since January 2019
“It is sad and unacceptable to harass a journalist in such a language,” said the court.
The higher court observed as the UNO has apologized he has accepted that his comment was not acceptable.
Youth associated with journo Rubel killing held in Kushtia
Police arrested a youth associated with the killing of local journalist Hasibur Rahman Rubel from Rajarhat intersection area of Kushtia town on Wednesday night.
The arrestee is Imran Sheikh Emon, 32, son of Shamsul Alam Samu of Courtpara area of the town.
Emon used to be a leader of Kushtia town Jubo League’s (JL) past convening committee. He has four cases of arms, drugs, theft and fighting pending against him.
He was also arrested with arms and phensedyl by Rab previously.
Md Khairul Alam, Kushtia’s Superintendent of Police (SP), confirmed these matters at a press briefing at the SP’s office on Friday afternoon.
“Emon is directly involved in the killing of journalist Rubel. Besides, Kazi Sohan and Khondker Ashikur Rahman Jewel, who have been previously arrested by Rab, are also involved in the killing,” said Khairul.
Read: Prime accused in Cumilla journo murder case killed in 'gunfight’ with Rab
The SP asserted that Rubel wasn’t killed for doing journalism. He added that police will present Emon before the court and ask for a 10-day remand.
Rubel was working at his office around 9:00pm on July 3 and went to the Singer intersection area of Kushtia town upon receiving a phone call. His decomposed body was found by Pabna river police under Joduboyra bridge in Kushtia’s Kumarkhali upazila four days later.
Rubel’s uncle Mizanur Rahman filed a case with Kumarkhali police station in this regard the next day, based on which the arrests were made.
Hasibur Rahman Rubel was the Editor(Acting) of local daily ‘Kushtiar Khabar’ and the Kushtia Correspondent of national daily ‘Amader Notun Shomoy’. He was also the General Secretary of Kushtia Reporters’ Club.
Journalist Fazle Elahi gets bail in DSA case
A Rangamati court on Wednesday granted bail to journalist Fazle Elahi in a case filed under the Digital Security Act.
Rangamati Senior Judicial Magistrate Fatema Begum Mukta granted the bail and asked Elahi, editor of Dainik Parbatya Chattogram and Pahar 24.com, to appear before the Chattogram Cyber Tribunal within seven days.
Also read:Comment on ‘nomination trade’: Janipop chairman, 2 others sued under DSA
Earlier in the day, Elahi’s counsel Advocate Biplab Chakma filed a petition seeking bail for his client.
Nazneen Anwar, daughter of former Rangamati MP (reserved seat) Firoza Begum Chinu lodged the complaint with police against Elahi under the Digital Security Act over publishing a report against her mother Chinu.
Chattogram Cyber Tribunal issued an arrest warrant against Elahi following the case and police arrested him from his ADC Hill residence in Rangamati Tuesday evening.
Also read:HC stays trial against journo Kajol in 3 cases under DSA
A group of journalists held a human chain in front of Rangamati Deputy Commissioner’s Office Wednesday morning demanding release of Elahi. Later, social workers, political activists and students expressed solidarity with them. They also demanded cancellation of the DSA.
1 held over attempt to kidnap Barishal Journalist
Police detained a man for primary questioning after an alleged attempt of kidnapping the bureau chief of Somoy Television in Barishal city on Sunday noon.
The detainee is Shahin Hossain Mallik, owner of Mumitu Community Center, the location where the miscreants tried to kidnap the journalist Apurba Apu, said Haridas Nag, Inspector of Barishal Metropolitan Detective Branch of police.
The incident occurred around 3 pm in front of Mumitu Community Center at Shitla Khola area in the city.
Apurba Apu said he was returning to office on foot after covering an accident news and as he reached near the community center a man on a rickshaw started scolding him for his work.
Also read: Five cops suspended for assaulting journos in Chattogram
“He attacked me and we had a scuffle. As I ran toward Mumitu Community Center another man tried to take me inside a white private car but I managed to flee,” he said.
The journalist reported the matter to police and said he has no idea why the men attacked him.
A witness on condition of anonymity told UNB that former local Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leader Zehad, Mamun, and Alam were among the people who tried to kidnap the journalist.
Also read: CRAB leadership condemns attacks on journos during New Market clashes
Monjur Hossain, Deputy Commissioner of DB police (BMP) said the matter is under investigation and soon the accused will be arrested.
President shocked at death of journalist Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury
President Abdul Hamid on Thursday expressed deep shock at the death of eminent journalist and writer Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury.
In a condolence message, the President said that Bangladesh has lost a pioneer who was progressive, creative and believed in the spirit of the Liberation War. His immortal song on language movement gave immense courage and inspiration to the Bengali nation during the Liberation War.
Also read: Veteran journalist Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury no more
The President also prayed for the departed soul of Gaffar Chowdhury and conveyed his deepest condolences to his bereaved family.
He was born in Ulania, Mehendiganj, Barisal Division and graduated from Dhaka University in 1959 and went to England on 5 October 1974.
PM mourns death of eminent journalist, writer Gaffar Chowdhury
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of eminent journalist and Swadhinata Padak winning writer Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury.
In a condolence message she said that Gaffar Chowdhury, lyricist of ‘Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano’, through his talent, deeds and writings upheld the spirit of the Liberation War of the country.
Also read: Bangladesh lost a patriotic penman following Gaffar Chy’s death: FM
“Gaffar Chowdhury continued his works throughout his life to present the actual history in front of the nation supporting the pledge of the Father of the Nation to build Golden Bengal and upholding the non-communal spirit of Bangalees,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said that during the Liberation War Gaffar Chowdhury encouraged the freedom fighters by his writings in the Bangladesh Government registered weekly ‘Joy Bangla’.
“Despite living abroad, through his write-ups he presented the ideology of the Liberation War of Bangladesh in national and international media,” she said.
Also read: Veteran journalist Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury no more
She mentioned that she has many memories with Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury. “I have got many suggestions. I have lost a knowledgeable personality who through his writings and research enriched the history and heritage of Bangalees,” she said.
The prime Minister prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family.
Thakurgaon journalist sued under DSA
A case has been filed against a journalist under the Digital Security Act (DSA) over publishing a report on a local UP member in Sadar upazila of Thakurgaon.
The accused is Nabin Hasan, Thakurgaon district correspondent of DBC Television and Daily Manabkantha.
On Tuesday, Anwara Begum, reserved female ward member of Chilarang union of the upazila, filed the case at Thakurgaon Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate court following a report on the UP member published on an online portal DBC Times.
Later, Thakurgaon Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate S Ramesh Kumar Daga directed the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to investigate the matter.
READ: Bagerhat lawyer sent to jail under DSA
Meanwhile, the accused journalist said he has been mentioned as Thakurgaon correspondent of DBC Times in the case statement. But he is a Thakurgaon correspondent for DBC Television, not DBC Times.
Thakurgaon PBI Additional Superintendent of Police ABM Rezaul Islam said they haven’t received the court order yet in this regard. “If received, we will investigate and submit a report to the court.”
Israel's top Catholic prelate condemns police funeral attack
The top Catholic clergyman in the Holy Land on Monday condemned the police beating of mourners carrying the casket of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, accusing the authorities of violating human rights and disrespecting the Catholic Church.
Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa told reporters at St. Joseph Hospital in Jerusalem that Friday's incident, broadcast around the world, was a “disproportionate use of force” to the Palestinian flag-waving crowd of thousands proceeding from the hospital to a nearby Catholic church in Jerusalem's Old City. The attack drew worldwide condemnation and added to the shock and outrage of Abu Akleh's killing as she covered a shootout in the occupied West Bank.
The police attack, Pizzaballa told reporters, “is a severe violation of international norms and regulations, including the fundamental human right of freedom of religion, which must be observed also in a public space." He spoke as the leaders and clergy of other Christian churches sat nearby.
There was no immediate Israeli response.
READ: Independent probe points to Israeli fire in journalist death
Israel and the Palestinians are locked in a war of narratives over Abu Akleh's killing. The reporter, a Palestinian-American, a Catholic and a 25-year veteran of the satellite channel, was shot Wednesday while covering an Israeli military raid in the Jenin refugee camp. She was wearing a blue vest clearly marked “Press.” Abu Akleh was a household name across the Arab world, known for documenting the hardship of Palestinian life under Israeli rule.
Palestinian officials and witnesses, including journalists who were with her, say she was killed by army fire. The military, after initially saying Palestinian gunmen might have been responsible, later backtracked and now says it's not clear who fired the deadly bullet.
After an international uproar over the funeral violence, Israeli police launched an investigation into the conduct of the officers who attacked the mourners, causing the pallbearers to nearly drop her coffin, saying the bullet must be analyzed by ballistics experts to reach firm conclusions. Palestinian officials have refused, saying they don’t trust Israel. Human rights groups says Israel has a poor record of investigating wrongdoing by its security forces.
After earlier saying they would accept an outside partner, the Palestinians said late Sunday that they would handle the investigation alone and deliver results very soon.
“We also refused to have an international investigation because we trust our capabilities as a security institution,” Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh announced. “We will not hand over any of the evidence to anyone because we know that these people are able to falsify the facts.” He stood with Abu Akleh’s brother, Anton, and Al Jazeera’s local bureau chief, Walid Al-Omari.
Amid the wrangling, several research and human rights groups have launched their own investigations.
Bellingcat, a Dutch-based international consortium of researchers, published an analysis of video and audio evidence gathered on social media. The material came from both Palestinian and Israeli military sources, and the analysis looked at such factors as time stamps, the locations of the videos, shadows and a forensic audio analysis of gunshots.
The group found that while gunmen and Israeli soldiers were both in the area, the evidence supported witness accounts that Israeli fire killed Abu Akleh.
“Based on what we were able to review, the IDF (Israeli soldiers) were in the closest position and had the clearest line of sight to Abu Akleh,” said Giancarlo Fiorella, the lead researcher of the analysis.
Fiorella acknowledged that the analysis cannot be 100% certain without such evidence as the bullet, weapons used by the army and GPS locations of Israeli forces. But he said the emergence of additional evidence typically bolsters preliminary conclusions and almost never overturns them.
Israeli police beat pallbearers at journalist's funeral
Israeli riot police on Friday pushed and beat pallbearers at the funeral for slain Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, causing them to briefly drop the casket in a shocking start to a procession that turned into perhaps the largest display of Palestinian nationalism in Jerusalem in a generation.
The scenes of violence were likely to add to the sense of grief and outrage across the Arab world that has followed the death of Abu Akleh, who witnesses say was killed by Israeli troops Wednesday during a raid in the occupied West Bank. They also illustrated the deep sensitivities over east Jerusalem — which is claimed by both Israel and the Palestinians and has sparked repeated rounds of violence.
Abu Akleh, 51, was a household name across the Arab world, synonymous with Al Jazeera’s coverage of life under Israeli rule, which is well into its sixth decade with no end in sight. A 25-year veteran of the satellite channel, she was revered by Palestinians as a local hero.
Late Friday, the Palestinian public prosecutor said preliminary findings show Abu Akleh was killed by deliberate fire from Israeli troops. The prosecutor said the investigation would continue. Israel's military said earlier Friday that she was killed during an exchange of fire with Palestinian militants, and that it could determine the source of the shot that killed her.
At the funeral, thousands of people, many waving Palestinian flags and chanting: “Palestine! Palestine!" It was believed to be the largest Palestinian funeral in Jerusalem since Faisal Husseini, a Palestinian leader and scion of a prominent family, died in 2001.
Ahead of the burial, a large crowd gathered to escort her casket from an east Jerusalem hospital to a Catholic church in the nearby Old City. Many of the mourners held Palestinian flags, and the crowd began shouting, “We sacrifice our soul and blood for you, Shireen.”
Shortly after, Israel police moved in, pushing and clubbing mourners. As the helmeted riot police approached, they hit pallbearers, causing one man to lose control of the casket as it dropped toward the ground. Police ripped Palestinian flags out of people's hands and fired stun grenades to disperse the crowd.
Abu Akleh's brother, Tony, said the scenes “prove that Shireen's reports and honest words ... had a powerful impact.”
Al Jazeera correspondent Givara Budeiri said the police crackdown was like killing Abu Akleh again. “It seems her voice isn't silent,” she said during a report.
East Jerusalem, home to the city’s most important Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy sites, was captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war. It claims all of the city as its eternal capital and has annexed the eastern sector in a move that is not internationally recognized.
The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state. Israel routinely clamps down on any displays of support for Palestinian statehood. The conflicting claims to east Jerusalem often spill over into violence, helping fuel an 11-day war between Israel and Gaza militants last year and more recently sparking weeks of unrest at the city’s most sensitive holy site.
Outside of prayers at the Al Aqsa Mosque, Israel rarely allows large Palestinian gatherings in east Jerusalem and routinely clamps down on any displays of support for Palestinian statehood.
Police said the crowd at the hospital was chanting “nationalist incitement,” ignored calls to stop and threw stones at them. “The policemen were forced to act,” police said. They issued a video in which a commander outside the hospital warns the crowd that police will come in if they don’t stop their incitement and “nationalist songs.”
Shortly before midnight, the Israeli police issued a second statement claiming that they had coordinated plans with the family for the casket to be placed in a vehicle, but that a “mob threatened the driver of the hearse and then proceeded to carry the coffin on an unplanned procession.” It said police intervened “so that the funeral could proceed as planned in accordance with the wishes of the family.”
The police claims could not be immediately verified. Earlier this week, Abu Akleh’s brother had said the original plans were to move the casket in a hearse from the hospital to the church, and that after the service, it would be carried through the streets to the cemetery.
Al Jazeera said in a statement that the police action “violates all international norms and rights."
"Israeli occupation forces attacked those mourning the late Shireen Abu Akhleh after storming the French hospital in Jerusalem, where they severely beat the pallbearers,” it said. The network added that it remains committed to covering the news and will not be deterred.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki called the images "deeply disturbing.”
The focus should be “marking the memory of a remarkable journalist who lost her life,” Psaki said. “We regret the intrusion into what should have been a peaceful procession.”
During a Rose Garden event, U.S. President Joe Biden was asked whether he condemns the Israeli police actions at the funeral, and he replied: “I don’t know all the details, but I know it has to be investigated.”
READ: Israeli police, Palestinians clash at Jerusalem holy site
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “was deeply disturbed by the confrontations between Israeli security forces and Palestinians gathered at St. Joseph Hospital, and the behavior of some police present at the scene,” according to a statement from his deputy spokesman, Farhan Haq.
Israeli police eventually escorted the casket in a black van, ripping Palestinian flags off the vehicle as it made its way to the church.
“We die for Palestine to live!” crowds chanted. “Our beloved home!”
Later, they sang the Palestinian national anthem and chanted “Palestine, Palestine!” before her body was buried in a cemetery outside the Old City.
Her grave was decorated with a Palestinian flag and flowers. The Palestinian ambassador to the U.K., Husam Zomlot, and Al Jazeera's bureau chief, Walid Al-Omari, placed flowers on the grave.
Salah Zuheika, a 70-year-old Palestinian, called Abu Akleh “the daughter of Jerusalem,” and said the huge crowds were a “reward” for her love of the city.
“We already miss her, but what had happened today in the city will not be forgotten,” he said.
Abu Akleh was a member of the small Palestinian Christian community in the Holy Land. Palestinian Christians and Muslims marched alongside one another Friday in a show of unity.
She was shot in the head Wednesday morning during an Israeli military raid in the West Bank town of Jenin.
In preliminary findings released late Friday, the Palestinian public prosecutor disputed the military's claim that Abu Akleh was caught in crossfire. The prosecutor said that at the time she was shot, Israeli troops were the only ones firing, with the nearest forces about 150 meters (yards) away.
The report said Abu Akleh was shot deliberately, citing traces on the tree next to where she was hit which, the prosecutor argued, indicated that the shots were fired directly at her. It said the shooting continued after she was hit, hindering first aid attempts.
Earlier Friday, the Israeli military said it could not could not determine who was responsible for her death without a ballistic analysis.
“The conclusion of the interim investigation is that it is not possible to determine the source of the fire that hit and killed the reporter,” the military said.
Israel has called for a joint investigation with the Palestinian Authority and for it to hand over the bullet for forensic analysis to determine who fired the fatal round. The PA has refused, saying it will conduct its own investigation and send the results to the International Criminal Court, which is already investigating possible Israeli war crimes.
Reporters who were with Abu Akleh, including one who was shot and wounded, said there were no clashes or militants in the immediate area. All of them were wearing protective equipment that clearly identified them as reporters.
The PA and Al Jazeera, which has long had a strained relationship with Israel, have accused Israel of deliberately killing Abu Akleh. Israel denies the accusations.
Rights groups say Israel rarely follows through on investigations into the killing of Palestinians by its security forces and hands down lenient punishments on the rare occasions when it does. This case, however, drew heavy scrutiny because Abu Akleh was well-known and also a U.S. citizen.
Palestinians from in and around Jenin have carried out deadly attacks in Israel in recent weeks, and Israel has launched near daily arrest raids in the area, often igniting gunbattles with militants.
Israeli troops pushed into Jenin again early Friday, sparking renewed fighting.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said 13 Palestinians were wounded. The Israeli military said that Palestinians opened fire when its forces went in to arrest suspected militants. Police said a 47-year-old member of a special Israeli commando unit was killed.