Four Held Over Attacking Journalist in Rajshahi

Police have detained four people for launching an attack on a journalist in Rajshahi on Sunday noon.

Tanjimul Haque, Staff Reporter of the Daily Jugantor newspaper and General Secretary of Rajshahi Journalists’ Union (RJU), was attacked in front of the main gate of Bioherbs Ayurvedic, an ayurvedic drug factory located in Tultulipara area of Rajshahi city.

“Every day, the workers of the factory load and unload goods while parking the vehicles on the streets, causing trouble for the passersby. On his way to work today, Tanjimul got stuck amid the parked vehicles. When he protested, some workers swooped on him and injured him badly,”said RJU President Rafiqul Islam Rafiq.

SM Masud Parvez, Officer In-charge (OC) of Kashiadanga Police Station, said that a case has been filed in this regard.

“Tanjimul has filed a case against 19 people, naming five and leaving 14 unnamed. Later, police went to the factory and detained four people,” Masud said.

Meanwhile, journalists stationed in Rajshahi have conducted a sit-in protest outside the drug factory, demanding quick arrests of the attackers.

Upon learning about the incident, Directorate of National Consumer Right Protection (DNCRP) conducted a drive at Bioherbs Ayurvedic and fined the company Tk 2 lakh for expired drugs and other malpractices.

“Instead of renewing the approval, the company was producing medicines without it. Besides, they also didn’t have any chemist to maintain the standards of the medicines. Moreover, the medicines were being produced in unhygienic environment. That’s why we’ve imposed penalty against Bioharbs Ayurvedic,” said Masum Ali, Assistant Director of DNCRP’s Rajshahi unit._UNB