Soldiers Sweep Mahakhali: Army Steps In After Journalist Assault
Following an assault on Kaler Kantho multimedia reporter Raiyan Hossain by transport workers, the Bangladesh Army conducted an operation on Thursday evening (June 5) at the capital’s Mahakhali Bus Terminal. During the operation, one member of a local transport syndicate was detained.
The army team clearly announced that no buses would be allowed to park in front of the terminal. In addition, they facilitated passenger boarding onto available buses and ensured that fares were collected fairly.
Journalist Raiyan Hossain stated that the attack occurred when he attempted to film incidents of passenger harassment at the terminal. “They snatched the boom mic from my hand and tried to seize my phone,” he said. “The attackers, linked to the transport sector, tore my clothes and inflicted injuries that caused bleeding in several areas of my body.”
He further alleged that uniformed police officers were nearby during the assault but failed to intervene. “It was the pedestrians who rescued me,” he added. After the incident, the wounded journalist went live on Facebook to document and expose the attack.
“There are passengers here who’ve been waiting for 3 to 4 hours,” said Raiyan. “The workers have parked the buses and are harassing people. Many are claiming that double fares are being charged.”
During the army’s operation, officials confronted transport workers over why they were demanding Tk 1,000 for tickets that should cost Tk 300.
