Colleagues, family members demand quick return of missing journo Sarwar
They also warned that a tougher movement would be waged if there is continued apathy to locate the missing journalist
Leaders of the Chattogram Union for Journalists (CUJ) urged law enforcement agencies to take quick steps to trace the whereabouts of the missing journalist, Golam Sarwar in the port city.
They also warned that a tougher movement would be waged if there is continued apathy to locate the missing journalist.
Besides, CUJ called a sit-in programme in front of the Dampara Police Commissioner's Office at 11am Sunday to press home their demand.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The journalist leaders made these remarks at a protest rally under the CUJ banner, held on Saturday at the premises of the Jamal Khan Press Club in the port city.
Golam Sarwar, 35, went missing on Thursday morning after departing from his Battery Goli residence in the city.
Sarwar is the executive editor of an online news portal – www.ctnewsbd.com. He is also a staff journalist at the Weekly Ajker Surjodoy and a CUJ member.
Ratan Kanti Devasish, acting president of CUJ, said, "Law enforcement agencies have made no headway on the issue thus far. We were surprised when they said they could not trace the location of Sarwar's phone, but anonymous individuals dialed his number several times on Friday."
"If law enforcement fails to let us know the whereabouts of Sarwar by Saturday night, we will announce tougher movement, like besieging the office of the Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner," he said.
Joining the protest rally, Sarwar's wife Jesmin Akhter requested the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to order law enforcement to take steps for the quick and safe return of her husband.
"I received some anonymous calls on Friday. The callers demanded money but did not mention any amount. I believe law enforcement can return my husband."
Moharram Hosain, an executive member of CUJ, conducted the event, while Chattogram Press Club Secretary, Chowdhury Farid; its former Secretary, Mohsin Chowdhury; senior journalists, Shaidul Islam, Mostaque Ahmed; CUJ Vice-President, Anindyo Tito; Acting Secretary, Sabur Shuvo; CUJ's Unit Chief, Saidul Islam, among others, spoke at the event.
Recently journalist Sarwar filed two reports— one on the casino business and the other on land grabbing, which some of his colleagues suspected might have led to his disappearance.
The police, however, said they were working on the case, taking into consideration both Sarwar's professional issues, and other possible matters.
Mohammed Mohsin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kotwali police station, said, "We are working hard to trace the location of journalist Sarwar, but the erratic mobile network is proving to be a challenge."
