Lawmaker of Rajshahi-3 constituency Md Ayeen Uddin has said that there is “nothing more effective” than beating.
He made the remark while addressing a public meeting, observing the National Mourning Day, on August 27 night at Kesharhat municipality.
A video clip of the lawmaker’s statement went viral on social media.
He said this referring to local journalists of Mohonpur upazila who, according to him, “disguised behind the noble profession were involved in extortion, drug trade and addiction.”
“Law is strict, yet there is no law greater than beating. Whenever you find such so-called journalists, catch them and thrash them so hard that they do not dare to show up again,” he said.
When contacted yesterday, the lawmaker confirmed his statement but said that the video clip did not show the complete speech.
“I wanted to say that there was no greater power than the people,” he said.
“My statement only refers to the ones who are engaged with different crimes under the cover of journalism through opening web portals,” he said adding that “I made the statement to save the honour of true journalists who are dedicated to uphold justice.”
He said Mohonpur upazila was a small area with six unions, one municipality and 67 wards, but the it has at least 76 journalists.
“These journalists and web portals have no office and gatekeepers. So it is not like anyone can register a complaint against them. Whenever police arrest them, they come out of jail in a few days and reengage in crimes,” he said.
He said he had also told the meeting that his own party Awami League has “extortionists” too. In some cases, those extortionists form syndicate with “criminal journalists”, he mentioned.
“Such syndicates have become active these days. It seems like there is a competition to become a journalist. Some extortionists of our party maintain close ties with the so-called journalists and together engage in extortion, drug peddling and consumption. They extort businessmen, developers, officials, NGO workers, and teachers of schools and colleges by threatening to write against them,” he said.
