Supporters of MP Haroon 'attack' journalist in Jhalakathi

Supporters of MP Bazlul Haque Haroon have reportedly attacked a journalist for hitting the ‘Like' button on a Facebook post about the alleged rape of two university girls at a hotel in Banani in the capital.

Jhalakathi Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 17 May 2017, 02:40 PM
Updated : 25 May 2017, 01:32 PM

Kathalia Correspondent of the Doinik Barisal Protidin, HM Badol, made the allegation against Kathalia Upazila Parishad Chairman and Upazila Awami League Convener Kibria Shikdar.

Jhalkathi – 1 (Rajapur – Kathalia) MP Haroon is the owner of the plot in Banani where the Raintree hotel is constructed, and his sons are the owners of the hotel.

Haroon’s younger son, Mahir Haroon, is alleged to have sent a birthday cake to rape suspect Shafat Ahmed on the night of the incident.

HM Badol, who is currently undergoing treatment at Jhalkathi Sadar Hospital, said that news of the alcohol recovery from the hotel and the stories relating to the rape incident were all over Facebook in the past few days where Haroon's name came up.

“Kathalia Upazila Parishad Chairman Kibria's and his men asked me why I had liked one of the news stories on Facebook and then started beating me with an iron rod,” said Badol.

Badol said he had been dragged behind the Kathalia Upazila Women’s Affairs offices around 3pm on Tuesday and beaten.

"My relatives later rescued me," he said.

According to Jhalkathi Sadar Hospital’s Dr Rakib Rahman, “Injury marks from a blunt object are all over Badol’s body. He has been grievously injured on his leg and waist. We are currently treating him.”

Bangladesh Mofossol Journalists Forum in Jhalkathi organised a protest rally at the district press club Wednesday evening.

They announced a protest rally and blockade programme at the Jhalkathi district administration buildings on Thursday to demand justice for Badol.

Local Awami League leader Kibria denied any involvement of his men in the attack but claimed the journalist had been spreading ‘propaganda’ against the MP.

“Badol has been accused of many things, including spreading propaganda against our MP. We did not attack Badol. It is possible that boys from the Chhatra or Juba League attacked him for writings against the MP.”

MP Haroon did not receive bdnews24.com phone calls or replied to SMS for his comments.