Chattogram journalist alleges he was held hostage, robbed of Tk70,300

Journalist alleges hostage ordeal and robbery in Chattogram

Bdbusinessdaily.com – A senior reporter has alleged that he was assaulted, threatened with weapons, held against his will and robbed while pursuing a news lead in Chattogram’s Halishahar area.

Abul Hossain, a senior reporter at Daily Purbodesh, said the incident unfolded on Wednesday, 14 October, near a canal in the Ramna Residential Area. He has submitted a written complaint to Halishahar Police Station, naming six people and identifying another 10 to 12 individuals as unknown accused.

The complaint describes an incident beginning at about 4:30pm, when Hossain went to the neighbourhood to collect information for a news report. He alleged that a group surrounded him, attacked him and accused him of coming to the area for improper purposes.

Allegations of threats, confinement and forced payments

Hossain said the group used a pistol and a knife to intimidate him before taking him to a marshy location beside a nearby canal. He alleged that the people involved took Tk15,000 from his wallet and then demanded Tk2 lakh in ransom.

When he declined to provide the requested amount, the group allegedly took possession of his mobile phone and compelled him to reveal the PIN for his bKash account. The complaint states that Tk55,300 was withdrawn through four separate transactions.

The combined amount alleged to have been taken from Hossain was Tk70,300.

The reporter also alleged that the group tried to create material that could later be used to discredit him. He said he was made to hold a packet of condoms while a video was recorded. The complaint says the group threatened to kill him and to release the footage if he went to police or attempted to seek legal remedies.

Such allegations raise concerns beyond the immediate financial loss. A forced recording can be used as a tool of intimidation, particularly when it is intended to damage a person’s reputation or prevent a complaint from being filed. In this case, the allegation of threats linked to the video forms part of the complaint submitted to police.

Police say they found initial support for complaint

Halishahar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Zainal Abedin Mondol said officers visited the location and found preliminary evidence that supported the allegations.

A case has been filed by the victim, and we are conducting operations to bring those involved to justice quickly.

The police response indicates that the matter has moved beyond an initial complaint into a formal case. The next steps will depend on the investigation, including efforts to identify and locate everyone alleged to have taken part in the incident.

For journalists, reporting often requires visits to locations where information is difficult to obtain and where people may object to scrutiny. The ability to gather news without intimidation is central to public-interest reporting. Allegations of violence, extortion and threats against a reporter therefore carry implications for both personal safety and the wider freedom to report on local events.

Journalists’ union calls for arrests and safety measures

The Chattogram Union of Journalists strongly condemned the alleged attack. In a statement issued yesterday, CUJ President Riaz Haider Chowdhury and General Secretary Sabur Shubho called for the immediate arrest of those involved.

The union leaders also urged action to ensure the safety of journalists. Their demand reflects the seriousness of claims that a reporter was targeted while carrying out professional duties and was then allegedly threatened to discourage him from pursuing legal action.

The complaint names six people, while also referring to 10 to 12 others whose identities were not known at the time it was filed. Establishing the roles of each person mentioned, examining the alleged cash transfers and reviewing any available evidence from the area will be important parts of the inquiry.

Hossain’s allegations include assault, confinement, weapon threats, cash theft, digital-account withdrawals, ransom demands and attempted blackmail. The case will determine how the allegations are addressed through the legal process and whether those accused can be brought before the authorities.