A human chain and protest rally has been held at Barishal University (BU) in protest of the heinous attack on Apurba Apu, head of Barishal bureau of Samay TV.
The programme was organized by Barishal University Journalists Association (BUJA) in front of BU Campus at 10 am on Thursday. General students including leaders of BU's social and cultural organizations took part in it. Wabidur Rahman, General Secretary of the Journalists' Association presided over the function.
During the programme, Wabidur said that the attempted attack and abduction of a devoted journalist like Apurba Apu Dada was an obstacle in the way of independent journalism. Despite having CCTV footage of the incident, the police could not arrest the culprits even after four days. We do not know why the police could not arrest the culprits now. We, the leaders of Barishal University Journalists' Association, demand immediate arrest of the culprits and exemplary punishment. Nabir Hossain Joy, organizing secretary of the journalists' association, said journalists were tortured at different times across the country. Obviously there is no real justice in such cases. Journalist Apurba is a senior and devoted journalist from Barishal. He was always vocal against irregularities and corruption. As a result, he was attacked.
President of Bangladesh Young Column Writers Forum, Barishal University Branch,Abu Bakr Siddique Shoaib said that there is no trial for torture of journalists at different times. For him, the perpetrators dare to repeat such incidents. The perpetrators of this heinous attack on journalist Apurba Apu Dada should be brought to justice under the law so that it becomes an example for others.
Debashis Das, a member of the journalists' association and general secretary of BU Prothom Alo Bandhu Sabha, said police could not make any arrests even after four days of the incident. Despite all the evidence, including CCTV footage and vehicle number plates, police have yet to make any arrests. We want the perpetrators to be arrested quickly and brought under exemplary punishment.
Incidentally, on May 29, at 3:30 pm, a group of terrorists tried to abduct Bureau Chief Apurba Apu on his way to the Barishal office of TV. Although the culprits could be identified by watching the CCTV footage, the police have not been able to arrest any accused yet.
