C T Online Desk: A journalist was assaulted allegedly by a union parishad chairman in Bandarban’s Lama upazila for taking photos and videos of alleged collusion in the distribution of 10 kg VGF rice per person as a gift of the prime minister on the occasion of Eid.
The incident took place at the yard of Aziznagar union parishad office in Lama upazila around 11am on Saturday.
During this time, two mobile phones and an ID card were confiscated from the journalist.
According to local sources, the distribution of VGF rice to 1200 people in the union started from 10am.
According to the government rule, 10 kg of rice per person is supposed to be given, but 7-8 kg of VGF rice is distributed in buckets without measuring. Those who bought the rice from the beneficiaries measured the rice outside.
They found that the quantity of rice was less than 10 kg.
In this regard, Abdur Rashid, a resident of Aziz Nagar, said that the prime minister’s gift of rice was supposed to be 10 kg, but after measuring the rice, it was found to be 8 kg.
When locals reported this complaint to the journalists, they went to the scene and took pictures and videos of rice distribution.
Enraged by this incident, UP chairman Jasim Uddin verbally abused journalist Belal Ahmed of Sangu newspaper.
Later, his supporters attacked the journalists and snatched his two mobile phones and ID.
Meanwhile, Belal took shelter in a shop to protect himself, Aziz Nagar police outpost IC Mohammad Ali came and rescued Belal
Besides, one of his mobile phones was recovered.
In this regard, IC Mohammad Ali of the police outpost said: “After the incident, I went to the spot and recovered one mobile phone of the journalist from Chairman Jasim Uddin’s men, and we are trying to recover the other mobile phone as well.”
Jasim Uddin, the chairman of Aziz Nagar Union Parishad of Lama Upazila, had been accused of threatening journalists and land grabbing of locals, cutting hills, and cutting down forest trees to run illegal brick kilns.
However, the UP chairman said: “There was no incident of distributing less rice in my union and no incident of beating of journalists and stealing of mobile phones.”
