Disappeared for 4 days: Still no trace of Sarwar

Journalist leaders are aggrieved over law enforcement agencies' apathy in tracing the whereabouts of Chattogram's missing journalist, Golam Sarwar.

"The kidnapping of Sarwar was preplanned. Four days have passed since his disappearance, yet the law enforcement agencies still don't know his whereabouts," said Mohammad Ali, president of Chattogram Union for Journalists (CUJ) at a sit-in event on Sunday in front of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) office.

"They keep giving unacceptable excuses, like erratic mobile network," he added.

The missing journalist Golam Sarwar, 35, is the executive editor of "Current Times News (CTN) BD," a Chattogram-based online news portal and a staff journalist at a Dhaka-based weekly, "Ajker Surjodoy." He is also a member of Chattogram Union for Journalists (CUJ).

Sarwar disappeared after departing from his residence in Chattogram's Battery Goli area on Thursday morning.

Recently Sarwar wrote two reports – one on the casino business, and the other one on land grabbing by powerful men. Some of his colleagues' suspect the latter could be the reason behind his disappearance.

His colleagues also alleged that law enforcement agencies are disinterested in locating Sarwar, as the kidnappers could have powerful links.

M Shamsul Islam, general secretary of CUJ said, "The law enforcement agencies have not made any headway in the investigation thus far, and we are justifiably disappointed. Even though we have contacted the Home Minister, our colleague is still missing after four days."

"We want him returned, unharmed. If the apathy of the police continues, we will wage a harsher movement," he added.

CUJ president announced another event on Monday where they will submit a memorandum to the Home Minister and the Inspector General of Police, in the event that law enforcement agencies fail to trace Sarwar's whereabouts by Monday noon.

Sabur Subho, joint secretary of CUJ conducted the sit-in event, while Chattogram Press Club Secretary, Chowdhury Farid; Bangladesh Federal Journalists Union (BFJU), Former Vice-President, Mostaque Ahmed; CUJ Senior Vice-President, Ratan Kanti Devasish; Vice-President, Anindyo Tito; Organizing Secretary, SM Iftekharul Islam; CUJ's Newspaper Unit Chief, Saidul Islam; TV Unit Chief, Masudul Haque spoke at the event; among others,.

Earlier on Saturday, CUJ held a protest rally at its premises, in which the missing journalist's wife, Jesmin Akhter and son participated.

Following the sit-in event, they met with the CMP Commissioner, Saleh Mohammed Tanvir, who assured the journalists that law enforcement agencies are trying their level best to locate Sarwar.

"We are trying our level best to trace the missing journalist. However, due to the erratic mobile network, the task has been challenging," he said.

"We have collected CCTV footage and other data, which are now being analyzed by the Police, Detective Branch, and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)," added Tanvir.