Central Publicity Affairs Secretary of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and party’s central executive committee member Matiur Rahman Akanda has issued the following statement on 3 November 2020 expressing deep concern at the incident of kidnapping and subsequent torture against the staff reporter of ‘Ajker Shurjodoy’ and the executive editor of online news portal ‘City News’ Mr. Golam Sorwar.

On 29 October, some miscreants abducted staff reporter of ‘Ajker Shurjodoy’ and the executive editor of online news portal ‘City News’ Mr. Golam Sorwar from Battery lane of the Chittagong city. 3 days after the abduction, police rescued him from a roadside canal in Kumira Union under Shitakunda Upazila of Chittagong district and admitted him in the hospital. At that time, journalist Golam Sorwar was so much traumatized that he was repeatedly saying that, ‘Do not beat me, I will make such news again.’ His remarks proved that he had gone through some inhuman brutalities. As such he can not come back to normalcy. We are condemning this incident of torture against this journalist.

We think that, journalists are being attacked, assaulted and abducted as a part of the ongoing policy of suppressing the media and independent journalism. Many journalists are often maltreated by the vested quarters while discharging their professional duties. Even they are being abused by the administration as well. Such conditions clearly cause hindrances to the freedom of expression. It is regrettable and shameful for us.

I am urging the concerned authorities to hold proper investigation in order to identify and arrest the criminals who were involved with the abduction of journalist Golam Sorwar. I am also asking the authorities for taking effective steps to stop crackdown and torture against journalist community.