Bhorer Kagoj Head of Online Mizanur freed after DB picks him up at midnight

Mizanur Rahman Sohel, head of online at Dainik Bhorer Kagoj and the secretary of the Online Editors Alliance, has been released by the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) after overnight questioning.

He was freed at around 10:15am today (19 November) and dropped off at his home, where his wife Sumaiya Seema received him.

Mizanur himself confirmed the matter in a post on Facebook, writing, "Alhamdulillah. After being in DB custody for almost 10 and a half hours without committing any crime, they have respectfully dropped me off at home."

He wrote, "Around 12am last night, on the pretext that the DB chief wanted to speak to me, five-six DB officers forcibly picked me up from my home.

"At the DB office, my name was entered in the accused register. I was made to remove my shoes and belt and kept in the lockup with other accused persons. But why was I detained? I did not know, and neither the officers who picked me up nor the senior DB officials could say anything."

Regarding Mizanur's detention, during a meeting at the ministry regarding Victory Day 2025, a journalist asked Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury whether he knew about the late-night detention without a warrant.

In response, the adviser said he was unaware of the matter and had just learned about it from the media. "I will look into it," he added.

Meanwhile, allegations were also brought to light that smartphone and gadgets businessman and Sumash Tech CEO Abu Sayeed Piyas was picked up by DB officials too around 3am today.

His wife, Sumaiya Chowdhury, confirmed the matter and said the DB police also seized Piyas's mobile phone.

When contacted, DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media and Public Relations) Talebur Rahman told The Business Standard that Mizanur was not detained. "He was brought in for information verification."

"Mizanur's phone number had been used in a sensitive matter, which prompted the police to bring him in for questioning. He was later released into his wife's custody, he added.

Allegations brought against CA's Special Assistant Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb

It has been alleged by journalist Zulkarnain Saer that Mizanur was detained because he was helping mobile phone traders organise a press conference regarding the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR), which they claim will hurt the industry.

In a post on Facebook last night, Saer said, "It has been alleged; Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, a Dutch citizen and special assistant to Chief Advisor of the Interim Govt, is preparing to initiate National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR), under the instigation of a particular syndicate, without any discussion with the general smartphone sellers, retailers and without considering their potential business losses."

"In an attempt to draw the government's attention to their demands and shape public opinion, the smartphone sellers and related business traders organized a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity tomorrow, Wednesday.

"Mizanur Rahman Sohel, in his capacity as a media professional, was advising the organizers of the press conference. The organizers claim that this action—to disrupt the press conference and intimidate the businesspeople—was carried out at the behest of Faiz Taiyeb," alleged Saer.

In his Facebook post following his release this morning, Mizanur wrote, "After a long time, I realised that I was detained only to give just 9 mobile phone traders the opportunity to conduct monopoly business at the signal of a government adviser. The organisation's secretary Abu Sayeed Piyas was also detained with me. He is still at the DB office."

"Today (Wednesday), a press conference of mobile handset traders' organisation Business Community, Bangladesh (MBCB) was scheduled at DRU regarding the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR). I was there as a media consultant.

"Stopping that press conference was their main target. But unfortunately for them, the whole country has learned about the very issue they tried to suppress by trying to stop the press conference."

"NEIR clearly contradicts the country's free-market policy," wrote Mizanur. "There is also a competition commission in the country to ensure fair competition. Yet a deep conspiracy is underway to put 25,000 mobile phone traders across the country out of work just to benefit only 9 businessmen.

"If this project is implemented, ordinary people in villages, expatriates, and many others will fall into trouble. An entire chain will collapse. Many businessmen will be ruined. It is worth noting that one of those 9 individuals is a school friend of that adviser," he alleged.

The journalist continued, "Why is the government afraid when someone speaks against a business syndicate? Did they have to forcibly pick me up in the dead of night just to stop a press conference?

"Those who chant slogans about "freedom of speech" — are they the ones who made this arrangement to silence me? Is this the real picture of freedom of speech in this land of lawlessness?"

Faiz rejects allegations

Faiz, a special assistant to the chief adviser on posts, telecommunications and information technology, has rejected the allegations regarding his involvement in Mizanur's detention.

The ministry, in a press release today, dismissed the claims, calling them baseless and politically motivated.

Faiz said, "We are implementing NEIR in the interest of national discipline and security. BTRC has even held meetings with concerned parties to curb the use of illegal handsets."

"Despite this, certain online news portals intentionally tried to blame me based on a Facebook post. Law-enforcement agencies perform their duties independently," he added.

He added that a vested group, failing to obtain personal favours from him, has resorted to such smear campaigns.

Faiz also clarified that he has no personal or professional connection with journalist Mizanur. "Even then, such propaganda undermines freedom of expression," he stated.