Journalist Attacked Investigating Illegal Sand Mining

A local journalist was allegedly assaulted while investigating reports of illegal sand extraction in Barishal’s Hizla upazila, leaving him seriously injured and his camera destroyed. Police have begun an investigation after receiving a formal written complaint, while journalists’ organisations have condemned the attack and demanded the swift arrest of those responsible.

The incident occurred at around 10:30 am on Saturday, 4 July, near a pond situated to the west of the residence of a local resident, Mosharraf Mia, in Purba Koralia village under Guabaria Union of Hizla upazila.

The injured journalist, Md Masud Sardar, 40, is the son of Abdul Majid Sardar of Purba Koralia village. He is a member of the Hizla Reporters’ Unity and serves as the Hizla correspondent for the Times of Barishal newspaper.

Speaking from his bed at Hizla Upazila Health Complex, where he was receiving treatment, Masud Sardar said several local residents had informed him that a group of individuals had been illegally extracting sand from beneath the ground using a locally manufactured dredging machine, commonly referred to as a “suicidal dredger”. According to the complaints he received, the unauthorised extraction had been taking place near a pond west of Mosharraf Mia’s house.

He said local residents feared that indiscriminate sand extraction was putting nearby homes, village roads and surrounding infrastructure at risk. Such activities have long been a source of concern in many parts of Bangladesh, where uncontrolled removal of underground sand can weaken the stability of land and damage public infrastructure if carried out without the required legal authorisation.

Masud Sardar said he travelled to the location to verify the allegations and collect information as part of his professional responsibilities. Shortly after arriving, he alleged that a group led by Tushar Miaji launched a sudden attack on him.

He identified the alleged attackers as Tushar Miaji, Abul Bashar, Al-Amin Miaji, Imran Sardar, Mizanur Rahman, Abu-Saeed Babu, Abu-Abdullah and Abdullah Bin Kalam, along with another seven or eight unidentified individuals.

According to his account, the group beat him with sticks, causing serious injuries. During the assault, they allegedly snatched his camera, vandalised it and threw it into the nearby pond, preventing him from documenting the reported illegal activity.

Attempts were made to contact the principal accused, Tushar Miaji, for comment. However, his mobile phone was switched off and no statement could be obtained.

Officer-in-Charge Md Sulaiman Hossain of Hizla Police Station confirmed that police had received Masud Sardar’s written complaint. He said officers were dispatched to the scene immediately after the complaint was filed and that an investigation is now under way. Legal action will be taken once the inquiry has been completed and the findings are established.

The alleged attack has prompted strong condemnation from the Bangladesh Mofossol Journalists Forum. The organisation’s central president, Ahmed Abu Jafar, general secretary Lion Md Abul Hossain and other leaders expressed deep concern over the incident, describing violence against journalists as an attack on press freedom and the public’s right to information.

They called on the authorities to arrest those involved without delay, conduct a fair investigation and ensure exemplary punishment for anyone found responsible. The organisation also urged the authorities to guarantee the safety of journalists carrying out their professional duties, particularly when reporting on allegations of environmental crimes and other issues of public interest.