bdnews24.com journalist beaten

A union council chairman in Dhunat Upazila of Bogra has reportedly assaulted bdnews24.com correspondent Zia Shahin for gathering information for reporting on his corruption and embezzlement of government money.

Shahin lodged a case with Dhunat Police Station over the assault on Thursday night.

In the case, Shahin also accused Gosaibarhi Union Council Chairman Rasheduzzaman Ujjal of threatening to kill him.

Shahin and his family have left Dhunat in fear of Ujjal and are now staying at Bogra town.

Dhunat Police Station OC Mobarak Hossain said Shahin sued Rasheduzzaman and eight others over the incident. Police arrested Rezzak Ali, one of the accused, in the case on Thursday night.

He said local MP Habibur Rahman and district Superintendent of Police Mozammel Haq asked him to take prompt actions against the chairman.

According to the case statement, Shahin collected information on Ujjal’s withdrawal of government project money and keeping it with him unauthorised, realisation of money illegally from beneficiaries of a project for the ultra poor, and help drug peddling in the area.

Many local people gave information and statements against the chairman.

Shahin said in the case that hearing about the matter, Ujjal and eight other, riding three motorcycles, attacked him at his house at Chithulia in presence of more than a hundred locals.

One of the attackers said: “Nothing happens if a journalist is beaten. Murders of journalists are not tried.”

“We’ll end your publication of report today.”

The attackers fled the scene when the locals reacted angrily.