United News of Bangladesh

Leaders and activists of Jubo Dal allegedly attacked the president of Shyamnagar Press Club, Samiul Monir, inside the press club premises in Satkhira on Monday over a report published against them. The incident occurred in the afternoon at the Press Club building adjacent to the Shyamnagar Upazila Parishad. Samiul Monir is the Shyamnagar upazila correspondent of Daily Samakal and Dainik Patradut. According to eyewitnesses and journalists present at the scene, 25–30 leaders and activists, including Shyamnagar upazila Jubo Dal member secretary Anwarur Islam Angur, along with Bablu, Mizan and Matleb, entered the press club and assaulted Monir. They allegedly dragged him out of the building and beat him with bricks, hammers and iron rods, leaving him seriously injured. On information, police rushed to the spot, rescued him and admitted him to Shyamnagar Upazila Health Complex. Shakir Hossain, the doctor on duty at the emergency department of the health complex, said Monir sustained serious injuries to the left side of his head from a hard object. He also bore marks of hammer and iron rod injuries on different parts of his body. He is currently undergoing treatment, the doctor added. Khaledur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Shyamnagar Police Station, said police responded immediately after receiving the information. Two people have been detained in connection with the incident and drives are underway to arrest the others involved. Earlier, on February 23, a report on alleged looting of sand from the Kholpetua-Kapotaksha river was published in Daily Samakal. Since the publication of the report, Monir had reportedly been receiving threats. The attack has triggered strong reactions among local journalists in Shyamnagar, who described it as a direct assault on press freedom. They demanded the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible.  When contacted, accused Anwarur Islam Angur did not deny the incident and said, “Monir is a psycho. Discussions are underway with the OC. I will speak later.”