A human chain was held in Sonaimuri, Noakhali, to protest an attack on two journalists following their reporting on corruption, as well as the police’s refusal to register a formal case regarding the incident. The event took place on Wednesday (September 23) afternoon in front of the Noakhali Press Club, organized by the Noakhali Journalists’ Union. Journalists working for various print, electronic, and online media outlets in the district participated in the program.

Speakers at the human chain stated that the attack targeted Golzar Hanif- Sonaimuri correspondent for *Daily Amader Somoy* and staff Reporter for *Daily Noakhali Kotha*-and Moniruzzaman-Sonaimuri Upazila Correspondent for *Daily Bhorer Chetana*. The attack occurred after they published reports alleging the misappropriation of funds allocated for orphans at the Foyezia Orphanage in Sonaimuri.

They further alleged that the journalists were threatened with the killing of themselves and their families. The speakers added that when they attempted to file a case regarding the attack, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sonaimuri Police Station, Md. Kabir Hossain, refused to register the case and merely kept the written complaint on record.

They alleged that the police have been stalling by citing “investigation” procedures instead of registering the case over the past four days. Conversely, extortion charges-unsupported by evidence-have been accepted against the injured journalists themselves. They also alleged that the police have yet to collect CCTV footage of the incident, which took place at the ‘Charuibhati Party Center’.

Additionally, the journalists expressed frustration over the lack of action taken by the relevant authorities following the reports on the misappropriation of government funds meant for orphans. Journalist leaders at the event stated that attacking journalists for publishing corruption reports based on evidence poses a threat to independent journalism. They demanded the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved in the attack.

They also sought the intervention of the Noakhali Superintendent of Police to investigate the matter and take appropriate legal action. Speakers at the event included Jamal Uddin Bishad, former Acting General Secretary of Noakhali Press Club; Shahadat Hossain Babu, General Secretary of Noakhali Journalists’ Union; Akbar Hossain Sohag and AR Azad Sohel, former Joint Secretaries of Noakhali Press Club; Nasir Uddin Badal, Staff Reporter for *Daily Manab Zamin*; Faizul Islam Jahan, District Correspondent for ATN News; Gias Uddin Roni, Noakhali Correspondent for RTV and *Daily Agamir Somoy*; Mujahid Islam Sohel, District Correspondent for Asian TV; Belal Hossain Bhuiyan, President of Sonaimuri Press Club; and Jasim Uddin Raj, former General Secretary of Sonaimuri Press Club; among others.