A journalist investigating post-election violence in Dewanganj upazila of Jamalpur has accused a local Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal leader of assaulting him. Shamsul Huda Ratan, the president of Dewanganj Press Club and a correspondent for the daily Inqilab, leveled the accusations against Faruk Ahmed, a senior joint convener of Dewanganj Municipal Jubo Dal.
The incident reportedly occurred in Mondol Bazar area under Chikajani union around 11:30 am on Saturday, as per local sources. Ratan claimed that following the victory of BNP candidate M Rashiduzzaman Millat in the recent national election, there were allegations of BNP activists attacking and intimidating leaders and activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in various parts of the upazila. Additionally, there were reports of assaults and property damage at several residences on Saturday morning.
According to Ratan, when he went to Mondol Bazar to investigate the reported incidents, Faruk Ahmed and his associates confronted and assaulted him. Ratan stated, “I was informed that under Faruk Ahmed’s leadership, properties of Jamaat leaders and activists were damaged. When I arrived to gather information, he physically attacked me.”
In response, Faruk Ahmed refuted the allegations, claiming he was present at the scene to control the violence and did not assault the journalist. Efforts to reach MP M Rashiduzzaman Millat for comment were unsuccessful.
During a recent press conference, Jamalpur District BNP Secretary Advocate Wares Ali Mamun expressed awareness of the journalist’s alleged assault and stated that the party is investigating the matter, committing to taking action if the accusations are substantiated.
Dewanganj Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Monsur Ahmed confirmed that police were dispatched to the location upon receiving the report of the attack on the journalist. However, no formal complaint has been lodged yet.
