ASP will face action for assault on journalist, says IGP

A ‘drunk’ trainee assistant superintendent of police has assaulted a journalist who was taking photographs at a check post in Shahbagh.

Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque has promised that “departmental proceedings” will be initiated against the errant official.

The incident occurred around 12:30am on Friday when police, carrying out routine controls, stopped two men on a motorcycle with a ‘press’ sticker.  

When Asian Television journalist Nur-e-Alam began to take photographs, the two bikers pounced on him.

The duo also manhandled policemen who rushed in to rescue the journalist.

The OC of Shahbagh Police Station Abu Bakar Siddique identified the two as trainee police ASP Moshiur Rahman and former Bangladesh Chhatra League leader Khairul Bashar.

Rahman was attached to Savar Police Station.

Police released the two after registering a general diary.

Journalists informed Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal of the incident while he was visiting the Combined Military Hospital on Friday.

Kamal went to the hospital to visit the Italian priest injured in an attack in Dinajpur on Wednesday.

Police chief Shahidul Hoque, who was accompanying Kamal, said: “The superintendent of Dhaka police has been asked to investigate the incident.

“We’ll take departmental action against him (Moshiur) after the investigation.”