Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s central executive committee member and party’s central publicity Affairs Secretary Matiur Rahman Akanda has issued the following statement on 12 October 2020 protesting and condemning a recent incident as a journalist namely Elias Sheikh was brutally murdered in Narayanganj’s bandar area.

Elias Sheikh, a staff reporter of Daily Bijoy and photo journalist was brutally chopped to death on 11 October at 9 pm in a market place of Kolagasia union under Bandar Upazila of the Narayanganj district. Elias was murdered as he had published some reports against local drug peddlers and illegal gas connections. The law and order situation of the country has deteriorated so much that even a journalist is not safe in his working place. Earlier, Mr. Elias lodged a general diary with local police station as he faced continuous threats from various corners. But local administration did not take any initiative to provide him security. Significant number of journalists have been murdered during the regime of the present government and Elias has become its latest victim. We are condemning this brutal murder.

I am urging the authorities concerned to arrest all the criminals who were involved with the murder incident of journalist Elias Sheikh and simultaneously to take effective steps to stop harassment and repression against the journalist communities.