Bani Desk: Mamunur Rashid Nomani, a senior journalist in Barisal divisional city of Bangladesh. Nomani is a professional and courageous journalist. Corrupt people and terrorists are terrified because of his news. Nomani is also known as an enemy journalist to drug dealers due to his anti-drug news. Journalist Nomani was tortured by Sadiq Abdullah, general secretary of Barisal metropolitan branch of ruling party Awami League and mayor of Barisal city, while collecting news at around 10:30 pm on September 12, 2020. At the behest of Barisal City Corporation Mayor Sadiq Abdullah, Barisal Metropolitan Awami League Organizing Secretary and 21st Ward Councilor Sheikh Saeed Ahmed Manna, Chhatra League cadre Rais Ahmed Manna, Atiqullah Munim, Rajib, Milon, and a terrorist group of about 8/9 were killed. At that time they say more news against us. Mayor Sadiq Abdullah then said why to write news against me. Now I will break your arms and legs. After that, the mayor of Barisal City Corporation Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah grabbed the collar of journalist Nomani’s shirt took her to the Kirtankhola river and drowned her in water. After rising from the river, Barisal City Corporation Mayor Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah instructed Councilor Sheikh Saeed Ahmed Manna to break Nomani’s arm and leg. On the instructions of Mayor Sadiq, Councilor Manna brought an iron rod from his private car on the bank of the river and beat Nomani with iron rods on her hands, legs, and back. The second, fourth, and fifth fingers of Nomani’s left hand were broken due to beating with an iron rod. Due to random beating, Nomani lost consciousness at the scene of the attack. At that time those cadres had firearms in their hands. They called the police Nomani was handed over to the police in critical condition. Meanwhile, Juba League leaders Kamrul Mridha and Labu, who were with Nomani, were also beaten and handed over to the police. The injured Nomani was rushed to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital and taken to Barisal Kotwali Police Station. The attack took place at 10:30 pm on September 12. The case was recorded at the police station at 1:35 pm and the time of the incident was given as 1:35 pm. In this case, Councilor Manna filed a case against journalist Mamunur Rashid Nomani for taking pictures of the mayor under sections 26 (2) and 33 (2) of the much-discussed and criticized Digital Security Act. On 13 September 20, Nomani was sent to jail along with Kamrul Mridha and Labu without presenting the injured Nomani in court. Journalist Nomani was lodged in Barisal Central Jail for 14 days. No treatment was given in the jail. The terrorists broke the second, fourth and fifth finger of Nomani’s left hand by beating her with an iron rod. If the broken finger becomes swollen and very sick, he is taken from the jail to the prison cell of Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital for treatment. An X-ray showed the doctor decaying a broken finger. After two days of treatment, he was sent to Barisal Central Jail again from the prison cell of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. Councilor Saeed Ahmed Manna filed a case against journalist Nomani at Barisal Kotwali Model Police Station under Sections 26 (2) and 33 (2) of the Digital Security Act, 2016. Case No. 39 of Barisal Kotwali Police Station, GR Case No. 574/2020, Case No. 1308/2020 of District Judge’s Court. When bail was applied to the Barisal Judicial Magistrate’s Court, the court did not grant bail. The family judge granted bail to Nomani on September 29, 2020, after her family members applied for bail in the Barisal District Judge’s Court. The case is currently pending. You have to appear in court every month. Although one year has passed, the police have not yet filed a charge sheet in court. Mamunur Rashid Nomani is the editor of the online news portal Barisal Khabar and the chief news editor of the daily Shahnama. Besides, Nomani is the joint-editor of Barisal Metropolitan Press Club, the founding president of Barisal Online Journalists Union, and Barisal Online Press Club. Nomani is an active member of numerous human rights, social and humanitarian organizations. Journalist Nomani has been the target of terrorist threats more than once. Journalist Nomani was seriously injured when the BCL terrorists attacked her in 2011 during a human chain protest against the attack on journalists and lawsuits. Condemning the arrest and release of journalist Nomani with torture and lawsuits Numerous media and social organizations including Sammilita Patrakar Parishad, Bangladesh Online Journalist Welfare Union, National Human Rights Association, Bangladesh Online Journalist Association, and other human chain have given human chain and state and statements in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka since 14 September 20. Lablu, an eyewitness to the incident, said that after receiving instructions from Mayor Sadiq, Councilor Manna beat Nomani with iron rods on his hands, legs, and back. He lost consciousness on the spot. Journalist Nomani returned to the hospital. Hasina Akhter, the wife of journalist Nomani, said that on the instructions of Mayor Sadiq Abdullah, the guards beat Nomani with an iron rod.
The mayor himself also tried to kill Nomani by drowning her. Nurul Islam, the then OC loyal to Mayor Sadiq Abdullah, did not allow us to meet Nomani at the police station. Almighty they are: Journalist Nomani’s wife Hasina Akhter said, “We could not meet Nomani at the police station.” Police did not present Nomani before the judge in the court. I could not even apply for bail in the first week in court for fear of contesting the charges in court or retaliation of the almighty mayor and his cadres. I did not have this fear. Many newspapers in Barisal did not dare to report the truth. Even the newspapers of Barisal did not dare to publish the news of the human chain in Dhaka demanding the release of Nomani.
Alia Iftekhar, a researcher at the Asia-Pacific Desk of the Committee to Protect Journalists, a media organization, called on the Bangladesh government to immediately dismiss the false allegations against journalist Mamunur Rashid Nomani, take responsibility for his medical expenses and provide him with effective protection. The World Organization Against Torture, a Swiss-based human rights organization, has demanded the withdrawal of the lawsuit against journalist Nomani, including condemnation of the attacks and arrests of ruling party cadres and the release of her. He also called for the withdrawal of the false charges against Nomani, calling the attacks, arrests, and lawsuits “tragic.” America.
