Bhorer Kagoj Head of Online Mizanur freed after overnight 'questioning' by DB

Mizanur Rahman Sohel, head of online at Dainik Bhorer Kagoj and secretary of the Online Editors Alliance, was released this morning (19 November) after being held overnight by the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police for what officers described as "information verification".

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

Confirming his release in a Facebook post, Mizanur wrote, "After being in DB custody for almost 10 and a half hours without committing any crime, they have respectfully dropped me off at home."

"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."

He also said, "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? 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.

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.

In his Facebook post, Mizanur claimed he was detained to obstruct a scheduled press conference by mobile phone traders opposing the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR).

He alleged the action was taken "at the signal of a government adviser."

Journalist Zulkarnain Saer made similar allegations in a Facebook post after Mizanur was picked up, claiming that Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb ordered the detention to benefit a syndicate pushing the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) without consulting industry stakeholders.

Faiz rejects allegations

Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Faiz, however, has rejected the allegations regarding his involvement in Mizanur's detention.

The posts, telecommunications and information technology 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 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 Mizanur. "Even then, such propaganda undermines freedom of expression," he stated.