1 arrested after journalist brutally assaulted with brick in Gazipur
One of the attackers even jumps on the victim’s chest. The man’s leg is crushed under the weight of the brick, and he is further dragged away
Police have arrested one individual for his alleged involvement in the brutal assault of a journalist near Gazipur Metropolitan's Sadar Metro Police Station, where the victim was dragged in broad daylight and attacked with a brick.
The incident took place around 5pm on Wednesday (6 August) near the Sadar Metro Police Station. The victim, Anwar Hossain, is a reporter of the daily Bangladesher Alo.
A disturbing video of the incident surfaced on social media on Thursday, triggering widespread outrage.
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Although the attack occurred a day earlier, footage of the assault began circulating on Facebook the following day.
The video shows a group of men viciously beating and dragging a youth near the northern side of the Joydebpur railway line in Gazipur city, where a makeshift fruit market has allegedly been set up on illegally occupied railway land.
The attackers are seen repeatedly hitting the man with sticks and kicking him while dragging him along the road.
At one point, a man is seen picking up a brick and repeatedly smashing it against the youth's legs and body in a frenzy of violence.
One of the attackers even jumps on the victim's chest. The man's leg is crushed under the weight of the brick, and he is further dragged away.
The incident has drawn comparisons to a previously reported case in Old Dhaka, where a man was fatally attacked with stones in a similarly shocking manner.
Footage also shows that police were present during the initial moments of the attack but did not immediately intervene.
One officer is seen approaching only after the brick attack takes place. The victim is later seen being rescued in an injured state and transported to hospital.
Police subsequently admitted Anwar Hossain to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital. Doctors there confirmed he sustained severe injuries, including serious trauma to his leg and bruises across his body.
Gazipur Metropolitan Police's Sadar Metro Station Officer-in-Charge Mehedi Hasan said that a case had been filed following a written complaint by Anwara Begum, the journalist's mother.
Several individuals were named in the complaint, and police arrested one accused, identified as Farid.
"This is a very tragic incident," said Taherul Haque Chowhan, additional police commissioner (Crime) of Gazipur Metropolitan Police.
"One of the attackers has been arrested. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects."
