Journalist Assault Alleged in Kalapara Over Report Publication

A journalist and schoolteacher has alleged that he was violently assaulted in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali district following the publication of a news report, in an incident that has triggered concern among local political and professional circles.

The attack is said to have taken place on Saturday evening, around 8:30 pm, in the Saddar Road area adjacent to the fish market in Kalapara municipality. The victim, Moajjem Hossain (40), serves as an assistant teacher at Noor Mohammad Secondary School and is also the Kalapara correspondent for the national daily Ajker Patrika.

According to Moajjem Hossain, he was sitting inside a mobile phone servicing shop when a group of seven to eight individuals allegedly attacked him without warning. He claims the group was led by Amirul Islam Fahim, general secretary of the upazila Chhatra Dal, Mojahar Uddin Biswas, and Beller, general secretary of a college unit of the organisation. He further stated that the attackers carried out two rounds of assault, leaving him seriously injured.

Local residents later rescued him from the scene and took him to Kalapara Upazila Health Complex. As his condition deteriorated, he was shifted the same night to Barisal for advanced medical treatment.

The journalist linked the incident to a report published on 21 June concerning an earlier attack on his sister’s residence in the Badurtoli Sluice Gate area of the town. He alleged that the latest assault was a direct consequence of his reporting on that earlier incident, which had been covered by several newspapers.

When contacted, Amirul Islam Fahim declined to speak to the media over the phone. Another accused, Beller, rejected the allegations, stating that he had been in Barisal all day attending an LLB examination and only returned to the area in the evening. He claimed he was being deliberately implicated and said he had no knowledge of who might have been involved in the attack.

Local political leaders have expressed concern over the incident. The member secretary of Patuakhali District Chhatra Dal, Md Zakaria Ahmed, described the matter as unfortunate and said that information was being gathered. He added that organisational action would be taken against those found responsible.

Kalapara Upazila BNP president Haji Humayun Sikder also condemned the alleged assault, stating that violence against journalists was unacceptable and assuring that those involved would face both party and organisational consequences.

Meanwhile, A B M Mosharraf Hossain, Member of Parliament for Patuakhali-4, said he had been informed of the incident and that inquiries were underway. He added that no one responsible for wrongdoing would be spared.

Kalapara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Nazrul Islam confirmed that the matter had been received and said that a thorough investigation was in progress.