Meherpur Correspondent

Two journalists have been accused of being attacked, beaten and their mobile phones snatched during the first-year English paper exam of the Bangladesh Open University at Kazipur Degree College in Gangni Upazila of Meherpur.

Meherpur District Correspondent Rabbi of Nagorik Television and Meherpur District Correspondent Tariq of Daily Khabar Kagoj were attacked while filming the scene of the examinees taking the exam by looking at the books. The first-year English exam of the degree under Bangladesh Open University was held at Kazipur Degree College on Friday (August 28). Journalist Rabbi said that they went to the examination center based on information that students were being given the opportunity to write the exam by looking at the books in exchange for 500 taka. When they went there, they saw the examinees opening their books and taking the exam. When they went to film the matter, he alleged that two teachers, including college teacher Moniruzzaman Biplob, got angry and attacked them.

Tariq, Meherpur district correspondent of the Daily Khaborer Kagoj, said, “When we went to the examination center, we saw that all the examinees were copying from books and taking the exam. When we asked about this, two teachers became angry with us. At one stage, they launched an ambush attack on us. At that time, the two mobile phones and the boom microphone of Nagorik Television that we were holding were snatched away. Later, we were locked up in a room. We managed to escape from there and are undergoing treatment at the hospital.” Rabbi and Tariq, who were injured in the attack, were taken to Gangni Hospital. After receiving primary treatment there, they went to Gangni Police Station to take legal action regarding the incident. Meanwhile, when the news of the attack on the two journalists spread, anger arose among journalists in Meherpur. Journalists in the district strongly condemned and protested the incident. At the same time, they demanded that those involved in obstructing journalists from performing their duties, attacking, detaining them, and snatching their mobile phones and equipment be arrested immediately and brought to justice.

Gangni Police Station OC Md. Muhaddid Morshed Chowdhury said, “The incident is being viewed with utmost importance. If journalists come to the police station and file a complaint, the matter will be investigated. Who is involved in the attack, why the incident happened, and whether mobile phones and other equipment were taken from the journalists, everything will be investigated.” He also said, “No one who is found involved in the investigation will be spared. If the allegations are found to be true, necessary action will be taken according to the law and the accused will be brought to justice.”