DigiBanglatech Executive Editor SM Imdadul Haque was attacked by employees of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority at the ICT Tower in Agargaon, Dhaka while collecting information linked with corruption. He is an Executive Member of Bangladesh ICT Journalists Forum (BIJF). This incident happened on Thursday (August 15) in the afternoon.
In this incident, Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority identified the culprits in an immediate meeting. This journalist, the victim of sudden attack, has given a written complaint to the managing director of the organization.
After learning about the attack on the journalist, the journalists and organizations of the ICT bit and the businessmen and social organizations of the technology sector expressed their anger. They demanded speedy punishment of the culprits.
Bangladesh ICT Journalists Forum (BIJF) expressed deep concern over the attack on journalist Imdadul Haque.
On behalf of the Executive Committee of the organization, president Nazneen Nahar and general secretary Sabbin Hasan expressed deep concern and strong condemnation of the attack. She also demanded the punishment of those involved in earliest possible time.
Technology Media Guild Bangladesh-TMGB strongly condemned the incident. Besides, all the members of TMGB expressed deep concern over such abominable incidents while performing their professional duties. TMGB demands exemplary punishment to the people responsible for this incident as soon as possible.
In a written complaint to the Managing Director of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority, Imdadul Haque said, ‘I came to the ICT Tower today on August 15 at noon to do my professional duties. Coming here, I learned that the employees of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority are agitating to demand reforms. I went to see them after hearing their slogans and they asked me to leave, so I came back. On arrival, Mosharref Hossain Parvez, Accountant and Selim Mahmud, Computer Numerator cum Office Assistant grabbed me from behind and punched me.
In the written complaint, he also wrote, ‘At this time, when I wanted to go towards the MD’s room and other officials of the Hi-Tech Park came running and identified me as a journalist, they attacked me again in the second round. At this time, the leader of the movement, Sharmili Khatun, encouraged them to attack from the side.
Later somehow, I took refuge first in the PR officer’s room and later went to the MD’s room under their guard.
Meanwhile, the voluntary organization Cyber Crime Awareness Foundation (CCAF) demanded exemplary punishment by identifying the culprits in the attack on its executive council vice-president SM Imdadul Haque. On behalf of the organization’s executive council, president Kazi Mustafiz said in a statement that such behavior towards him is strongly condemned. After a long period of autocratic rule in the country, a new government has recently taken over. In this context, I hope that good governance will be ensured in the country and the working environment of the media workers will be restored. But such rogue behavior makes us question this expectation. The Cybercrime Awareness Foundation (CCAF) is calling upon the concerned parties to bring the identified attackers under the law and ensure exemplary punishment.
Mohiuddin Ahmed, the President of Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers Association condemned and said, “I strongly condemn and protest the attack by the dishonest, corrupt officials and employees of Hi-Tech Park Authority on Mr. Emdadul Haque, Executive Editor of DigiBanglatec, while he was engaged in his professional duty of collecting news at Hi-Tech Park today. Besides, I humbly appeal to the interim government on behalf of Bangladesh Mobile Phone Consumers Association to quickly arrest these attackers and bring them under the law.
Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority Managing Director (MD) GSM Zafar Ullah said that the incident is very sad. I myself have apologized to him for that. I received a written complaint from him. The CCTV footage will be investigated and action will be taken I have asked for time till Sunday for this.
In a statement, the DigiBanglatech.News Editor Saiful Islam Siddique said, “In view of some complaints received by DigiBangla, our Executive Editor SM Imdadul Haque visited ICT Tower Hi-Tech Park on August 15. But there he was harassed by some miscreants”. Mr. Saiful Islam Siddique has demanded exemplary punishment for the guilty in this incident. He said, “Such incidents are a threat to independent journalism. I am worried about the safety of my journalists. Therefore, I request the authorities to immediately bring those involved in this incident to justice. And I am grateful to those who immediately protested this incident with DigiBangla”.
