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Published : 19 Nov 2025, 04:22 AM
Mizanur Rahman Sohel, head of online at Dainik Bhorer Kagoj, has been whisked away from his residence in Badda by officers identifying themselves as members of the Detective Branch (DB), his wife says.
Sumaiya Seema said around 12:30am on Wednesday she went to bed while Sohel was working on his laptop in the living room.
A little later, the doorbell rang. Sohel went to answer it and found five men at the door wearing DB jackets, Seema recounted.
When she asked why they had come, one of the men, introducing himself as “Ashraful”, told her that the DB chief wanted to speak to Sohel and that he would be brought back shortly.
“I am extremely worried. It is now 2:30am, and they still have not brought him back. I am unwell, and my child is sick,” Seema said.
Attempts to contact the DB authorities overnight were unsuccessful.
In a Facebook post, investigative journalist Zulkarnain Saer said he spoke with DB chief (Additional Commissioner) Shafiqul Islam, who confirmed Sohel was brought to the DB office for “questioning” based on specific information.
Saer suggested that the detention may have been linked to Sohel’s advisory role at a press briefing organised by smartphone retailers.
The conference aimed to highlight the National Equipment Identification Register (NEIR) initiative led by Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief advisor, without consulting local vendors, which the organisers claimed threatened their businesses.
Saer said Sohel, co-vice president of the Center for Technology Journalism (CTJ), was advising at the press conference, adding that organisers claim “this action -- to disrupt the press conference and intimidate the businesspeople -- was carried out at the behest of Taiyeb.”
CTJ Secretary General Saif Ahmad condemned the action: “The removal of a journalist from his home after midnight is not only alarming but a direct attack on press freedom.
“While the DB chief acknowledged the incident, a clear explanation for why a journalist was taken at such an hour is imperative. We are deeply concerned for Sohel’s safety and demand a neutral investigation, a full explanation, and his immediate release.”
Attempts to reach Taiyeb late at night were also unsuccessful.
