17 sued over assault on 2 Rajshahi  journalists

Seventeen people including seven staffers of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) have been sued in connection with the attack on a reporter and a cameraperson of a television channel on the premises BMDA in Rajshahi city on Monday.

ATN News channel reporter Bulbul Habib lodged an FIR against seven named and 10 unnamed people at  Rajpara police station on Monday night, said Jahangir Alam, officer-in-charge (OC) of the station.

Police later registered a case based on the FIR, he added.

The seven named accused are BMDA Executive Director Abdur Rashid, 55, storekeeper Bhandar Rakshak Md Jiban, 42, clerk of Executive Director’s Office Salim, 41, Executive Director’s personal assistant Nurul Islam, 45, Ansar member Enamul, 35, clerk Faruk, 40 and driver Abdus Sabur, 42.

On Monday afternoon, two staffers of BMDA were suspended in connection with the attack.

On Monday, reporter Bulbul cameraperson Rubel came under attack on the premises of BMDA when they went there around 8:30am.

Rubel was admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital with injuries on his lips and right ear, said Rafiqul Islam Rafiq, president of Rajshahi  Union of Journalists.

Bulbul Habib alleged that a section of BMDA staffers launched the attack on them around 8.30am.

“We went to the BMDA premises around  8.20 am and started a live telecast on how the government officials are responding to the new office timing,” Bulbul added.

When BMDA Executive Director Abdur Rashid came to know about the matter, he started shouting at us.