Prothom Alo Journalist ‘Picked Up by Law Enforcement Agency’

Shamsuzzaman Shams, a reporter of Bangla daily Prothom Alo, was picked up allegedly by a law enforcement agency from his Savar residence early Wednesday.

Witnesses and family members said 16 Criminal Investigation Department (CID) members in plainclothes reached in front of Shamsuzzaman’s residence in Ambagan area adjacent to Jahangirnagar University around 4:30 am, reports UNB.

Later, seven-eight of them entered the house of the journalist and picked him up. They took him to Savar Bottola area where they have their ‘sehri’ at Nurjahan Hotel. 

Chief security officer of the university Sudipta Shaheen, and a security guard were also with them at the hotel.

They also seized a laptop, two mobile phone sets and a portable hard disc after searching the room of Shamsuzzaman.

Shamsuzzaman along with his mother has been living on the ground floor of the building in Ambagan area for the past one year. He is also the younger brother of Rabiul Karim, an assistant police commissioner who died in the Holey Artisan café attack in 2016.

At 4:45 am, the CID members again went to the house of Shamsuzzaman along with him.

Sub-inspector of Ashulia Police Station Md Raju and local journalist Ariful Islam were present there.

During their stay at the house for 5-7 minutes, Shamsuzzaman was asked to take some clothes.

Later they again left the house with Shamsuzzaman.

A police officer also told owner of the house Ferdous Alam that Shamsuzzaman wrote a report against the state and he was detained for interrogation.

Azad Rahman, additional superintendent of CID (media), said “I have no idea about it and there is no information of any case filed against him.”

Md Quamruzzaman, officer-in-charge of Ashulia Police Station, said he was not informed about the detention of Shamsuzzaman. “Investigation is on to find out Shamsuzzaman,” he said.