Bangladesh government, answer please, what is your intention?

June 4, 2009

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/253/bangladesh-government-answer-please-what-is-your

This morning at around 9:00 a.m. [Thursday, June 4, 2009], the same 'Intelligence Man' named Sergent Rafiq came to the residence of Weekly Blitz editor and was looking for him. Then immediately Executive Editor of Blitz, Sohail Choudhury went to the downstairs and asked him why did he come and which 'intelligence agency' he was belonging to. Moreover, he asked him what the reason behind his coming was.

He said, he cannot disclose the identity and purpose of his coming. Then Sohail Choudhury asked him to wait and wanted to call the Weekly Blitz editor at the downstairs of the residence. At this stage, the so-called intelligence man ran like a thief and left the spot.

Meanwhile, guards at neighboring houses told Weekly Blitz that, these two men in motorbike [black color] were seen moving around the residence of Weekly Blitz editor for past few days.

It may be mentioned here that, on Wednesday at 5:00 pm the same Sergent Rafiq [a man from Comilla district in Bangladesh] wearing rain coat and riding on motor bike came with another person at the residence of Weekly Blitz editor, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury at around 5:00 pm [local time] on Wednesday, June 3, 2009 and was inquiring about the car number, driver's name, driver's cell phone number and the time of Blitz editor's going out of house etc.

The way of asking questions put the very identity of these motor-cyclists in serious doubt. It may be mentioned here that, earlier on February 22, 2009 one Shamim from DGFI led a team of hooligans to attack the office of Blitz.

This time, once again, sudden visit by this Sergent Rafiq and his way of inquiries leave serious threat on the security of the editor of the newspaper. A number of intelligence agencies have categorically denied that none of their men were sent at the residence of the Blitz editor.

Islamist militants are continuing to attempt to kill internationally acclaimed award winning anti-jihadist journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury since July 2006. Office of the newspaper was bombed and attacked a number of times, including abduction of Choudhury at gun point by the members of Rapid Action Battalion [RAB] on March 18, 2008.

Military backed interim government withdrew police protection from the residence of Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury in May 2008.

After the fleeing of Sergent Rafiq, Weekly Blitz editor tried to contact a number of officials with DGFI, but none responded to the calls.

With the latest incident, it is once again proved that the ruling government is continuing various forms of intimidation tactics on internationally known award winning journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Embassy in Washington D.C, told our USA Correspondent, Dr. Richard L Benkin that it agreed that the concern was especially justified in Choudhury's tenuous position. Such visits often are meant as threats in Bangladesh.

Weekly Blitz editor continued to contact several high ranking officials of DGFI [Directorate General Forces Intelligence], but none ever responded to the calls.

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