Case filed over attack on journalists amid BNP-NCP clash in Cumilla
The incident, which took place in Cumilla's Muradnagar upazila on Wednesday (30 July), resulted in injuries to at least seven journalists.
A case has been filed at the Muradnagar Police Station following an attack on journalists during a clash between supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the National Citizen Party (NCP)
The incident, which took place in Cumilla's Muradnagar upazila on Wednesday (30 July), resulted in injuries to at least seven journalists.
The case was lodged by a journalist named Md Shahe Imran, a Cumilla district correspondent for the daily 'Khola Kagoj'.
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Confirming the matter today (1 August), Muradnagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Zahidur Rahman said, "The attack on journalists is an extremely deplorable incident. The accused fled the scene immediately after the incident. We have not been able to arrest anyone yet, but we are making our best efforts to apprehend them."
The complaint names four individuals — Shukkur Ali (35), Ashiqul Islam Siddiqui (21), Nahidul Islam Naim (24), and Kamal Hossain (25) — and an additional 12 unidentified persons as defendants.
According to the case statement, the clash erupted on Wednesday afternoon at Allahu Chattar in Muradnagar upazila. Supporters of Adviser Asif Mahmud had organised a protest rally against alleged negative propaganda against him and his father.
As the rally was underway, BNP activists allegedly launched an attack, leading to a chase and counter-chase between the groups.
During the chaos, a group of assailants targeted journalists who were attempting to collect footage of the event. In the attack, the journalists were not only assaulted but also had their cameras, mobile phones, and cash snatched away.
The plaintiff, Md Shahe Imran, stated, "We were attacked while trying to gather news. They beat us and took our cameras and mobile phones. We demand proper justice for this."
The clash also left at least 15 people injured between the two opposing groups on the day. Police and local sources indicated that the confrontation started when bricks were thrown at the protest rally by supporters of the National Citizen Party (NCP). However, both sides have provided conflicting accounts of the incident.
Obaidul Haque, a supporter of Asif Mahmud, alleged that BNP activists initiated an unprovoked attack on their rally, claiming over 50 of their supporters were injured.
However, Mohiuddin Anjon, convenor of Muradnagar upazila BNP unit, denied the accusation, stating that his party was observing a peaceful programme when NCP activists attacked them. He claimed 15 of his party supporters were injured in the ensuing chaos.
