Clash over Sayeedi Janaza: 4 journalists accused in police case, gunmen excluded

Police filed two cases accusing four journalists but did not mention the names of the gunmen who were seen in videos firing shots during the deadly clash that broke out between police, alleged ruling party men and supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami in Cox's Bazar's Chakaria on 15 August.

Some 75 people were named among the 2,200 accused in the cases filed on 16 August. In both cases, four journalists — Abdul Majid of Daily Manobkantha, Iqbal Farooq of Daily Alokito Bangladesh, AKM Belal Uddin of Daily Cox's Bazar Sangbad and Omar Ali of Daily Nayadiganta — stood accused.

Two of the journalists — Iqbal Farooq and Abdul Majid — told The Business Standard (TBS) that they were not even present at the spot during the incident. The other two said they were covering the incident as newsmen. 

The clash left "a jamaat activist" dead and scores injured after it erupted in Chakaria upazila centring the Gayebana Janaza (funeral-in-absentia) of Jamaat leader and convicted war criminal Delwar Hossain Sayeedi who passed away at the BSMMU on 14 August.

Several hours after the incident, videos and photos spread across social media platforms showing several gun-toting men, wearing helmets, firing shots during the clash.

TBS has also obtained videos and pictures of some of the gunmen.

One of the gunmen was identified by locals and eyewitnesses as Belal Uddin, president of Jubo League's Ward-7 in Chakaria municipality. 

Video footage also shows that at that time, Belal was accompanied by Municipal Awami League General Secretary Mohammad Alamgir and another person named Amin Chowdhury, the personal assistant of a local lawmaker Jafar Alam. Both of them were holding sticks in their hands.

When asked why their names were not included in the cases, the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Cox's Bazar Mahfuzul Islam told TBS, "The police did not bring charges against any journalist. Locals and eyewitnesses said these people [journalists] were present at the spot. They have been made accused in the first information report [FIR]. If they are not involved, they will be excluded from the final report."

"Photos and videos of the gunmen were released 17-20 hours after the clash. So, if their names are not mentioned in the case, they will be included after investigation."

Accused No-7 in the case, Abdul Majid, the Chakria correspondent of Daily Manobkantha, told TBS, "I was staying at Laksharchar Union at the time of the incident. Before this, I participated in a relief distribution programme with the Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chakaria Police Station but conspiratorially I have been accused."

Confirming the matter, Mohiuddin Mohammad Aurangzeb, chairman of Lakcharchar Union, told TBS, "When the UNO and OC left the relief distribution programme, journalist Abdul Majid stayed in my office for some time. I do not know why he was made an accused in the case."

Journalist Union Cox's Bazar (JUC) President Advocate GM Ashek Ullah said, "The involvement of four journalists in the case has raised questions about the role of the police. We think that the journalists have been involved in the case by the instigation of some quarters."

The plaintiff of the case, Mohammad R Forkan, a sub-inspector of the Chakaria Police Station, was contacted on the phone by this newspaper. He picked up but cut the line when the caller identified himself as a journalist. Later, his cell phone was found switched off.

Javed Mahmud, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chakaria Police Station, told TBS, "Accused has been made in the case based on the video recorded at the scene and the details of eyewitnesses. We are looking for the gunmen, if their identity is known, they will be included in the case."

Member of Parliament Zafar Alam said, "I went to the spot knowing that the police were being attacked. With police assistance, I brought the situation under control. Jamaat men are just lying."

Mohammad Alamgir and Amin Chowdhury could not be reached over the phone for comment despite several attempts.