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Published : 07 Mar 2026, 09:29 PM
Police in Moulvibazar’s Sreemangal have received a formal complaint following an assault on a bdnews24.com correspondent during a public event.
The incident occurred on Friday at a Hindu Holi festival, also known as Dol Purnima or Doljatra, held at Sabujbagh residential area’s Shmashan Ghat on the outskirts of Sreemangal town.
Local police chief Jahirul Islam Munna said Bikul Chakraborty, general secretary of the Sreemangal Upazila Press Club, filed a complaint naming two individuals and several unidentified others.
Bikul serves as the district correspondent for bdnews24.com and Ekushey Television.
Citing the complaint, police said several guests had been invited to the event, including Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Muhibullah Akand, former Sreemangal BNP general secretary Yakub Ali, Sreemangal Upazila administrative officer Mrinal Kanti Das Tapas and Bikul.
A local named Subrata Chakraborty allegedly attempted to attack the journalist on stage during the programme, accusing him of being “an agent of the Awami League” and of “damaging the BNP’s image”.
The event’s convenor and Union Parishad member Piyas Das, along with others on stage, intervened and removed Subrata from the venue.
Police said that later, while Moulvibazar-4 MP Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury was virtually addressing the event, Subrata returned and again tried to attack Bikul on stage.
People present at the event stopped him and forced him to leave again.
The incident created tension among the crowd before guests urged people to remain calm.
After the programme ended and the guests had left, Subrata allegedly returned with a group of associates and assaulted Bikul on the road near the cremation ground.
The journalist sustained minor injuries before the assailants fled as bystanders intervened.
Those present later took Bikul to the Sreemangal Upazila Health Complex for treatment.
Speaking on the incident, Bikul said: "A certain group has been trying to harm me for a long time.
“They are spreading fabricated information on Facebook to incite the public against me.”
“Previously, a group looted and set fire to my office and business for their personal interests,” he added.
Yakub, the former BNP leader who was present at the event, condemned the act:
"This was a truly despicable incident.
“We did not expect such an ugly disruption at such a beautiful event."
Attempts to contact Subrata for comment were unsuccessful, as his mobile phone was switched off.
Leaders of the Sreemangal Upazila Press Club have issued a statement condemning the attack and demanding that those responsible be brought to justice.
OC Jahirul said a written complaint has been recorded and "action will be taken following an investigation”.
