Kamrul Hasan : A protest meeting was held in response to the terrorist attack on Akmal Hossain, Organizing Secretary of the Manikganj Editors’ Council and Editor of the weekly newspaper Agnibindu.

The protest meeting took place on Saturday (October 4) at the council’s office on Shaheed Rafiq Road in the town, where speakers strongly condemned the incident and demanded that the perpetrators be brought to justice without delay.

Speakers at the meeting said the government and law enforcement agencies must take greater responsibility in ensuring the safety of journalists. “An attack on journalists is a direct assault on freedom of speech,” they added.

On the evening of September 26, Akmal Hossain was attacked in a premeditated assault in the Uthuli area of Shibaloy. The attack was allegedly led by expelled Jubo Dal leader Zahidul Islam Saddam. Although a case has been filed over the incident, none of the accused have yet been arrested, prompting outrage among the speakers over the role of the police.

The speakers warned that if the police fail to arrest the attackers, the Editors’ Council would be compelled to announce tougher programs. The council also decided to submit a memorandum to the Superintendent of Police.

The meeting was presided over by Mahbul Alam Jewel, Vice President of the Editors’ Council. Among others present were General Secretary Akram Hossain and editors of various newspapers published from Manikganj.