Demanding exemplary punishment of deputy commissioner (DC) of Kurgram Parveen Sultana and her subordinate officers and staffers for arresting, torturing and sentencing one year imprisonment to journalist Ariful Islam in the district as part of vindictiveness for publishing reports about corruption against her, journalists in Rangamati on Sunday morning formed a ‘Human Chain’ and a protest rally in the town.
The protest rally was held in front of Rangamati deputy commissioner’s office at New Court Building area where all journalists working in different print, electronic and online media joined it. In the rally, journalists’ leaders said DC of Kurigram Parvin Sultana has become disqualified to run her post as DC as she tortured illegally an innocent journalist Ariful Islam, district correspondent of Bangla Tribune, by abusing her power.
As Ariful earlier served several reports about DC Sultana’s unbridle irregularities and corruption, she made the heinous and barbaric attack on him (Ariful) as part of vengeance, said journalists.
Venting their anger, journalists further said that the countrymen never expect such an officer like DC Parvin who acts as a demon and a hoodlum by misusing power. The image of the government will be at stake and there will be a big misunderstanding between the media men and the government, and even with the common people if such an autocratic and dishonest officer was assigned in government’s duties, they pointed out.
Chaired by the most senior journalist and editor of local daily Giridarpon AKM Moksud Ahmed, the rally was also addressed, among others, by senior journalist Sunil Kanti Dey, president of Rangamati Reporters Unity, Sushil Prasad Chakma, secretary of Rangamati Press Club, Anwar-al-Haque, president of Rangamati Journalists Network, Shantimoy Chakma, editor of local daily Parbatya Chattagram, Fazle Alahi, joint secretary of Sangbadik Forum, Monsur Ahmed, secretary of Rangamati Journalists Union, Ural Moni Chakma (Himel) and president of Sangbadik Samity, Ziaul Haque.
