Midnight Move, Morning Return: Media Man’s Mysterious Detention by DB
Mizanur Rahman Sohel, the Online Chief of Dainik Bhorer Kagoj, was taken from his home in Uttar Badda, Dhaka, around midnight for interrogation and was returned to his residence around 10 AM. His family members confirmed that a team of the Detective Branch (DB) escorted him back home after questioning.
Later, Sohel himself posted, “Alhamdulillah. After being in DB custody for nearly 10 and a half hours without any wrongdoing, they have just returned me home with due respect.”
Meanwhile, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant-in-Charge of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology under the Chief Adviser, issued a clarification regarding a Facebook post circulating about the incident.
He stated:
“We are implementing NEIR strictly for the sake of national discipline and security. To curb illegal handset usage, BTRC has already met with the disgruntled parties. Despite all this, some online news portals have deliberately blamed me over a Facebook post. My response to them—it is unwarranted. Law enforcement agencies carry out their duties independently. There is no scope for my involvement in this matter. There is no complaint against me from the concerned journalist or his family either. A vested quarter, failing to gain undue advantage from me, is now spreading such propaganda. Upon inquiry, it was confirmed that the journalist was returned home after questioning.”
Earlier, around 12:30 AM on Tuesday night, Sohel’s wife Sumaiya Sima alleged that five people wearing DB jackets detained him from their home.
According to her, one of them introduced himself as Ashraful and said, “The head of the Detective Branch wants to speak to Sohel. We came to take him. He will be returned shortly.”
Describing the incident, Sima said she had already gone to bed while Sohel was still working on his laptop. Hearing the doorbell, he opened the door to find five men in DB jackets. She came out of the adjacent room and asked why they were there. The officer then explained the reason for taking Sohel.
“I am extremely worried. It’s 2:30 AM and they haven’t brought him back yet. I’m unwell, and my child is also sick,” she added.
No official comment was available from DB authorities that night.
Meanwhile, Saif Ahmad, General Secretary of the Center for Technology Journalism (CTJ)—an organisation where Sohel serves as Vice President—wrote in a message to telecom and technology reporters:
“Detaining him from his home after midnight is not just alarming—it is a direct attack on press freedom. The DB chief has acknowledged the incident, but there must be a clear explanation as to why such an unusual time was chosen for questioning.”
Early in the morning, the Bangladesh ICT Journalists Forum (BIJF) also expressed concern over Sohel’s late-night detention. Their protest statement said:
“Taking a journalist away at such an unusual hour is not only abnormal; it poses a clear threat to press freedom and journalists’ safety. Although the DB chief admitted taking him to their office, the necessity of interrogation at such an odd hour remains unclear and highly questionable.”
DBTech/IK/OR
