Lalmonirhat Correspondent

A local journalist was allegedly assaulted, extorted, and threatened with death by a local BNP leader and his associates in Lalmonirhat on Tuesday afternoon.

The victim, Md. Russel Islam, a representative of the Daily Dabanol and a member of the Press Club Lalmonirhat, was attacked around 3:00 pm at the Lalmonirhat Railway Mukta Mancha while working on a news report.

Following the assault, colleague journalists and local residents rescued Russel and admitted him to Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital for treatment.

Footage of the incident, which went viral on social media, shows Rashidul Islam, who claims to be the general secretary of Ward 8 BNP in Mahendranagar Union under Sadar Upazila, alongside his son Shamim Mia and several others, grabbing the journalist by his shirt collar, dragging him, and physically assaulting him until he collapsed to the ground.

According to a written complaint filed by Russel at Lalmonirhat Sadar Police Station on Tuesday night, Rashidul had been demanding extortion money ranging from Tk 50,000 to Tk 75,000 from him via phone and third parties over a period of time. Rashidul allegedly threatened Russel with physical harm, murder, and false legal cases if the money was not paid.

Russel alleged that on Tuesday afternoon, Rashidul and his son arrived at the venue on motorcycles with a group of 10 to 12 men and demanded Tk 50,000 on the spot. When Russel refused to pay, they dragged him, verbally abused him, and subjected him to a violent physical assault, attempting to strangle him before bystanders intervened.

"I was sitting at the Railway Mukta Mancha writing a report when Rashidul, his son Shamim, and several others arrived and demanded Tk 50,000," Russel said. "When I refused, they grabbed my collar, hurled abuses, and began beating me until my colleagues rushed to my rescue."

The complaint further alleged that Rashidul has been leveraging his political identity following the 2024 student-led mass uprising to engage in extortion, terrorism, and illegal gambling operations in the area. These allegations could not be independently verified immediately.

The viral footage has sparked widespread outrage among local journalists, who held protests demanding a thorough investigation and swift legal action against the perpetrators. However, statements from the accused BNP leader Rashidul Islam and his son Shamim Mia could not be obtained immediately.

Despite the written complaint being lodged on Tuesday night, police have yet to arrest any of the accused.

Lalmonirhat Sadar Police Station OC Saad Ahmed confirmed receipt of the complaint, stating, "We have received the complaint regarding the attack on the journalist. Appropriate legal action will be taken following an investigation."