Amtali/Barguna/Representative/

The attack took place on Sunday afternoon in front of the central leaders on the meeting platform led by UP Chairman Akhtaruzzaman Badal Khan and Upazila Chhatra League President Mahbubul Islam while collecting information about the attack of two groups in the Amtali Upazila Awami League conference. Mobiles and cameras were looted. 7 journalists were injured.

It is known that Amtali Upazila Awami League conference started at 12 noon on Sunday. 30 minutes after the start of the meeting, the upazila Awami League joint general secretary and Chawra UP chairman Akhtaruzzaman Badal Khan’s provocative speech started the chase between the two groups. At one point it turned into a conflict. Central Awami League organizational secretary Ad. Afzal Hossain and MP Dhirendra Debnadh Shambhu tried. Journalists went to the forum to gather information about the beating of the two groups. Chawra UP Chairman Akhtaruzzaman Badal Khan and Upazila Chhatra League President Md Mahbubul Islam abused and launched journalists in front of central leaders on the meeting stage. When journalists protested, they were attacked. At least 7 people were injured in this attack.

The injured journalists are Md. Sohag Mia, Adv. Shahabuddin Panna, Sifat, Sohag Hafiz, Saiful Islam, Zahid and Mahbubul Alam. The injured journalists were given first aid. Central leader Ad. Afzal Hossain Chawra, Chairman Akhtaruzzaman Badal Khan and Upazila Chhatra League President were banned, but they were not restrained. Later, the central leaders left the meeting platform. Some eyewitnesses said that Akhtaruzzaman Badal Khan and Upazila Chhatra League General Secretary Mahbubul attacked the journalists unnecessarily.

Former President of Barguna District TV Journalist Forum and 24 TV Staff Reporter Md. Abu Saleh said that Chawra UP Chairman Akhtaruzzaman Badal Khan and his cousin Upazila Chhatra League President Md. Mahbubul Islam unnecessarily attacked the journalists when the journalists went to the meeting stage to gather information about the Awami League conference stage. I strongly condemn this incident. He demanded justice in the case of bribery of journalists.

Former president of Barguna Press Club, senior journalist Md Hasan Jhontu said, the incident of bribing journalists in front of central leader Ad, Afzal Hossain and MP Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu is highly condemnable. He also said that despite targeting central leader Afzal Hossain and MP Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu, Badal Khan and his brother Mahbubul Alam did not indulge in attacking journalists. Later the central leaders left the meeting stage. We demand a fair trial of this incident.

Upazila Joint General Secretary Chawra UP Chairman Akhtaruzzaman Badal Khan did not pick up the phone when contacted.

AKM Mizanur Rahman, OC of Amtali police station said, legal action will be taken if complaints are received.

Bangladesh Awami League International Affairs Secretary Shammi Ahmed expressed regret over the attack on journalists and said that the attack on journalists is a sad incident. I apologize to the journalists.