Five detained over brutal murder of journalist Tuhin in Gazipur
In a separate incident, another journalist was attacked with bricks near the Joydebpur railway line today, where a fruit market has allegedly been set up on illegally occupied railway land.
Police have detained five people in connection with the brutal murder of journalist Asaduzzaman Tuhin in Gazipur's Chandna Chowrasta area last night (7 August).
However, police have yet to arrest the assailants seen in CCTV footage carrying a machete and other sharp weapons.
Basan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shahin Khan said two cases have been filed, one by the victim's elder brother, Md Selim, and the other by the brother of Badsha Mia, who was injured in a separate attack shortly before Tuhin's killing.
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The five detainees are being questioned, and if their involvement is confirmed, they will be formally arrested, he said.
A police source, requesting anonymity, said all those arrested so far are muggers. They are reportedly involved in various local crimes, including mugging.
Asaduzzaman Tuhin, 38, was the Gazipur staff reporter for Dainik Protidiner Kagoj. Originally from Mymensingh's Fulbaria upazila, he lived in Gazipur city with his wife Farida Akhter and their two sons.
According to police and witnesses, the incident occurred yesterday near Tuhin's office at Masjid Market.
A person named Badsha Mia had been attacked with sharp weapons by a group following an altercation involving a woman. Tuhin, who witnessed the attack, began filming on his phone.
The assailants noticed, chased him into a nearby tea shop, and hacked him to death before fleeing. While the chase was captured in CCTV footage nearby, the hacking was not.
Police later recovered Tuhin's body and sent it to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital for autopsy.
Gazipur Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner (North Crime) Rabiul Islam said, "Preliminary evidence suggests Tuhin was killed for recording the incident. We have identified the assailants through CCTV and intelligence, but their names will not be disclosed for now. A manhunt is underway."
Badsha, who is receiving hospital treatment, claimed the woman was part of a gang that had stolen Tk30,000 from him.
Local sources allege the attackers are known criminals, including Faisal alias "Ketu Mizan", and others named Shah Jamal, Bullet, and Sujon.
Eyewitness and colleague Shamim Hossain said Tuhin had called him shortly before the incident.
"A man and a woman got into a fight near the Mosque Market. A group attacked the man with sharp weapons. Tuhin started filming, but the attackers noticed and chased him into a tea stall, where they killed him," he said.
At the hospital morgue the following morning, Tuhin's brother Selim said, "Tuhin's wife and sons have lost their guardian. Who will take care of them now? Why was my brother murdered?" He demanded swift justice.
Tuhin laid to rest, public demand justice
The post-mortem examination of Tuhin's body was completed at Gazipur Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital this morning.
Later in the day, after the Jummah prayer, his funeral was held at the Eidgah ground in the Chandna Chowrasta area of Gazipur city, where he was killed.
"Tuhin's brother has filed a case, but the police have yet to arrest anyone involved in the incident. Many other journalists have been killed, but we have not received justice. I do not know when we will receive justice for the murder of Tuhin," said Khairul Alam Rafiq, editor of Dainik Protidiner Kagoj.
Locals staged a protest in the Chandana area on Thursday night, demanding justice for Tuhin.
Members of the Gazipur Journalist Union also staged a protest today, demanding that the perpetrators be brought to justice.
Gazipur BNP General Secretary M Manjurul Karim Rony condemned the killing and urged a thorough investigation.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, another journalist was attacked with bricks near the Joydebpur railway line today, where a fruit market has allegedly been set up on illegally occupied railway land. One person has been arrested over that attack.
The France-Bangladesh Journalists' Association (FBJA) has strongly condemned two violent attacks on journalists in Gazipur on consecutive days.
In a statement issued today, FBJA Coordinator Mohammad Mahbub Hossain and Spokesperson Mohammad Arif Ullah said that even if the journalists had committed any wrongdoing, the law should have been allowed to take its course.
