bdnews24.com reporter starts case over brutal attack in Brahmanbaria

Members of the Swechchhasebak League and the Jubo Dal have been named among the accused

bdnews24.com’s Brahmanbaria Correspondent Mainuddin Rubel has initiated a case for a brutal attack on him that left him bloodied over his reporting on illegal soil trading in the area.

On Saturday night, the wounded journalist lodged the case at Bijoynagar Police Station, naming 13 individuals as accused, including a leader of the Swechchhasebak League and an expelled leader of the Jubo Dal.

Mainuddin is a resident of Bhitidaudpur village in the Paharpur Union of Bijoynagar.

The accused are: Mokhlesur Rahman, alias Liton Munshi, 40, who is a former convenor of Bijoynagar Upazila Jubo Dal, Kaiyum Mia, 55, former joint general secretary of the Upazila Swechchhasebak League, his son Munna, 30, Rasel Mia, 28, Mobarak Mia, 25, Kaiyum’s cousin Anis Mia, 53, who is a member of the Ichhapura Union Parishad, Rubel Mia, 35, Anis’s son Al Amin, 32, Babul Mia, 57, Ashraful, 32, Foysal Mia, 30, Titon Mia, 50, and Mamun Mia, 33, all residents of Mirzapur village under Ichhapura Union in Bijoynagar.

According to the case files, Kaiyum and Mokhlesur, along with the other accused, had been illegally excavating farmland for a while, and selling the soil using tractors, exploiting their political influence.

They were also allegedly involved in filling local ponds and other illegal activities.

The complaint adds that after the news reports on these activities were published, the accused threatened Mainuddin, which included death threats.

On Friday evening, after attending to family matters, Mainuddin set off for Brahmanbaria town. At around 7:45pm, the accused, waiting near the Bijoynagar Upazila Parishad office, ambushed him with local weapons, such as machetes, spears, wooden sticks, and iron rods.

According to the case documents, when Mainuddin asked for an explanation on why they were assaulting him, Mokhlesur allegedly instructed the attackers to sever his limbs to end his desire to write news articles.

Kaiyum then struck Mainuddin on the head with a sharp machete. As Mainuddin tried to shield himself with his left arm, his elbow fractured, and he also sustained injuries to the right side of his head.

It further adds that when he fell to the ground, the other accused beat him with iron rods and knives, causing cuts on his right thumb and right side of his chest.

Locals, alerted by his screams, rescued him and took him to the Bijoynagar Upazila Health Complex.

He was later transferred to Brahmanbaria General Hospital for advanced treatment, where he remains hospitalised.

Mainuddin’s elder sister, Salma Akter, said: “My brother has always reported against irregularities and injustices. That is why these criminals attacked him in an attempt to kill him.”

“The accused are influential and wealthy, and it is very easy to bring complaints against journalists. They are spreading false and fabricated stories against my brother. But my brother stands for the truth. We demand the immediate arrest of his attackers,” she added.

Bijoynagar police chief Shahidul Islam said, “A case has been filed over the attack on the journalist. Efforts are underway to detain the accused.”