A group of Chhatra Dal men allegedly assaulted and threatened the Jhenaidah correspondent of The Daily Star today while he was covering a programme in the district town where Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman was in attendance.

The journalist, Omar Ali Sohag, lodged a general diary (GD) with Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station following the incident.

The attack took place around 12:30pm in front of the Muktamancha on the Old DC Court premises where the law minister, also the lawmaker for Jhenaidah-1, was the chief guest at a reception for meritorious students of Jhenaidah Collectorate School and College.

Sohag said he joined reporters as they approached the law minister to speak with him after the programme when suddenly, Asif Iqbal Makhan, president of Jhenaidah Press Club and joint general secretary of the district BNP, approached him from behind. "He accused me of reporting negatively against the government and labelled me as an Awami League accomplice before shoving me out."

Sohag alleged that Makhan subsequently ordered local Chhatra Dal activists to beat him. "I managed to get away and stood near a tea stall. However, 15 to 20 Chhatra Dal men approached me there, questioned why I took photos of the minister's programme, and started beating me," he added.

Following the attack, Sohag received primary treatment at Jhenaidah 250-bed General Hospital and filed the GD.

On July 15, The Daily Star published a report on Bir Shreshtha Hamidur Rahman's sculpture being demolished at the Jhenaidah central bus terminal. "Makhan became furious over the report and had been threatening me ever since," Sohag alleged.

Sohag said that Makhan had previously harassed the daily Jugantor's correspondent, Mizanur Rahman, over the same issue earlier.

Makhan, a former general secretary of the district Chhatra Dal, is also the Jhenaidah correspondent for Boishakhi Television.

Makhan told The Daily Star that he saw Sohag taking photos of the law minister at the event and intervened, asking, "What are you doing here?" before removing him.

Asked if he had the authority to do so, he admitted, "No, I do not."

He, however, claimed to be unaware of any physical assault on the journalist.

Contacted, District Chhatra Dal General Secretary Shahriar Russel told The Daily Star, "I was at the law minister's programme all day. I have not heard of any such incident."

Regarding the incident, Law Minister Asaduzzaman said, "I saw the Press Club president asking someone, 'Why are you here?' I do not know what happened after that."

He said he was also unaware of Makhan's affiliation with the BNP. He, however, said Makhan "definitely should not have done this" and advised the victim to file a case with the police station to seek legal recourse if the attack truly occurred.

"He will get support if he takes legal action," the minister added.

Meanwhile, journalist leaders, including Jhenaidah District Press Club President Mizanur Rahman and former Jhenaidah Press Club president Asif Iqbal Kajol, strongly condemned the incident.

Md Asaduzzaman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station, confirmed that the GD had been filed. He added that action would be taken subject to investigation.

*Note - This report was updated at 8:27pm