GROWING FLAK OVER JOURNO ASSAULT Rony not resigning

Says he would meet PM and do ‘what is best for all’

Golam Maula Rony at a talk show of Ekushey Television. Photo: TV grab

Golam Maula Rony at a talk show of Ekushey Television.

Ruling party MP Golam Maula Rony Tuesday backtracked on his decision to resign as a parliamentarian amid rising criticism over his assault on two television journalists.

The embattled parliamentarian said he would talk with the prime minister and then do “what is the best for all”.

The lawmaker from Patuakahli-3 (Golachipa-Dashmina) constituency conveyed his decision after meeting with the House Speaker hours after he had told the media that he would resign.

On Saturday, Rony beat up reporter Imtiaz Momin and cameraperson Mohsin Mukul, members of a team that produces a crime-investigative show, Talash, for private satellite television Independent TV, at his Topkhana Road office in the capital.

Emerging from the meeting with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury Tuesday afternoon, Rony said: “I came to the Speaker to talk about the ideology and policies I’ve been following all these days.”

“I also came to inquire about what I should do if the parliament feels embarrassed due to my actions.”

He continued: “I am mentally prepared to resign right now on gentleman agreement if the party wants me to do so.”

According to the two assaulted journalists, they went to Rony’s office Saturday on receiving information that the lawmaker would receive a bribe of more than Tk 1 crore sent from Patuakhali.

Describing Saturday’s incident as a long-term conspiracy against him, the AL lawmaker said: “What I did was well within my rights of self-defence. I don’t think any of my actions was illegal.”

He said he would seek justice with the court regarding what happened.

Talking to The Daily Star earlier in the day, Rony said he had decided to resign amid growing criticism over assaulting the two Independent TV journalists.

“I have decided to resign. I will submit my resignation to the House Speaker in the afternoon,” he said then.

Earlier in the morning, Rony posted a status on his Facebook page Tuesday morning hinting that he might resign and “fight these conspiracies as a regular citizen”.

Independent TV filed a case against Rony and 20 others on Saturday for assaulting Imtiaz and Mohsin.

Meanwhile, Rony sued the two journalists saying that the journalists attacked him and tried to extort money from him.

Leaders of the ruling AL strongly condemned the attack on the Independent TV journalists, describing the incident as shameful and sad.

Source: The Daily Star