DRU and CRAB Voice Concern over Journalist Rajib Ghosh Being Taken to DB Office, Demand His Whereabouts Be Made Clear

The Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) and the Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association (CRAB) have voiced concern over DBC News special correspondent Rajib Ghosh being taken to the office of the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. The two journalist bodies issued the concern and demands in separate statements on Wednesday night.

The organizations demanded that Rajib Ghosh's whereabouts be made clear to his family and colleagues, and that he be released quickly if there is no legal basis against him.

In their statement, DRU President Abu Saleh Akon and General Secretary Mainul Hasan Sohel said the incident of a journalist being taken to the DB office for questioning has created concern in the journalist community. They said any step by law enforcement must follow existing law and due legal process, and that if there is an allegation against a journalist, it must be settled through the existing legal process.

The DRU leaders also said transparency and accountability must be ensured in such incidents to protect media freedom and journalists' professional rights. They demanded that Rajib Ghosh's whereabouts be made clear to his family and colleagues immediately and that he be released quickly if there is no legal basis against him.

Separately, CRAB President Mirza Mehedi Tamal and General Secretary M M Badshah said in their statement that Rajib Ghosh must be released quickly if there is no legal basis against him. They warned of tougher programs if the demand is not met.

Earlier on Wednesday, DB police detained Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, the former chairman of DBC News and information adviser to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, from the area of the channel's office in Mohakhali in the capital. While he was being taken to the DB office, the channel's special correspondent Rajib Ghosh was also taken along. Police, however, did not clearly say why Rajib was taken.

At around 3:30 p.m., Additional Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police Shafiqul Islam confirmed that Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury had been taken to the DB office. He said an unwanted situation had arisen after Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury went to the office in the afternoon, and that he was brought to the DB office to avoid that situation after police received the news; one more person was brought from there, and officers were speaking with them.

DBC News assignment editor Muktadir Anik said he saw Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury in a DB vehicle as he was being taken away. He said that when Rajib Ghosh was taken, DB members told him Rajib was being taken 'for tea.'