POLICE couldn’t trace missing photo journalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol though six days have elapsed in the meantime. New York-based Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International on Saturday called on Bangladesh authorities to urgently locate journalist Kajol. According to newspaper reports, police found some CCTV footages where Kajol was seen heading towards Kataban intersection from Hatirpool around 6:45pm on March 10 before he went missing along with his motorbike. Police investigators also said that they were analyzing the CCTV footages. Police were reportedly collecting more footage and strangely they did not find his motorbike. Meanwhile, people from different walks of life including students, photojournalists, politicians and labour leaders formed a human chain in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Sunday asking the government to trace the missing journalist immediately. It is to be noted that Kajol was among the accused in a criminal case filed against Manabzamin newspaper editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, and 31 others under the Digital Security Act.
Amid widespread criticism for controlling democratic rights and freedom of speech, the government passed the Digital Security Act on October 8, 2018. Since then dozens of media men and other professionals have been sued under this act. As per data provided by Reporters Without Borders, Bangladesh ranked 146th out of 180 on the 2018 World Press Freedom Index. And the country has consistently ranked between 144th and 146th since 2013. Apart from gagging media by abusing the law, there is another method which is often applied by influential quarters to suppress the dissent opinions — that is forced disappearance. We don’t know whether journalist Kajol is a victim of forced disappearance. But we ask the authorities concerned to trace out his whereabouts without wasting any time. It’s a matter of great shame to remain a citizen untraced for almost a week in any civilized country. The family members of Kajol, including his wife and children, are now passing their days in utmost anxiety and uncertainty.
If any report causes embarrassment to any powerful political person, it could be protested by sending a rejoinder to the said newspaper. It’s a normal and civilized procedure. It must be practiced. Making journalists disappear should never be an option.
