Will journalist Turab get justice?
M.Hasanul Haque uzzal
(one)
My secondary school teacher is Abdur Rahim. Qualities of an ideal teacher include: 2013 or 2014 year. Appeared in my office with a boy of 20/21 years. It is good to say that Abdur Rahim Sir was a journalist as well as a teacher. So I came to the profession of journalism and got closeness to Sir. He introduced the boy. Said all his younger sons. Interested in joining the journalism profession. Sir highlighted various aspects of journalism in Beanibazar and said, I think my son will be safe with you. When I asked his name, he said, “Brother, my name is Turab”. I am talking about investigative journalist ATM Turab of Sylhet. This brother said, from that day I adored him like my younger brother. I was working in Bangla TV then. I hired him as my cameraperson. Started working from scratch with great efficiency. Later, when he joined ‘Channel S’, Turab assumed the responsibility of the cameraman of ‘Channel S’.
Despite his small body size, a very large camera could fit on his shoulder. After working for a few years, his father edited the weekly magazine. Suddenly one day he expressed his interest in working in a newspaper in Dhaka. I told him that the appointment can be recommended in Daily Naya Diganta newspaper. Turab was very happy to hear me. I said ok let me talk. Within a few days, he was appointed to Daily Naya Diganta newspaper.Turab started sending news to Daily Naya Digant newspaper from Beanibazar. Many of his investigative reports were published in the magazine. Within a few days, Turab became famous in Beanibazar.
(two) Due to the pressure of family work, Turab became Sylhet. Suddenly one day he came and politely said, brother, I have to stay in Sylhet regularly. Parents are sick and sister is home alone. I have to take all responsibility. I said, ok. At this time, turab decided to work in Daily Jalalabad newspaper. I assured him that I would give him the chance. Among the dailies I have worked in Sylhet, I have a soul connection with Daily Jalalabad. I know that the Jalalabad authorities will not give up on any demand. At that time Matiur’s brother was the MD and Abdul Quder tapader News Editor of Jalalabad newspaper. One day I requested him on the phone about Turab. Motiur Brither welcomed and asked Abdur Rahim Sir’s son to send it away. Turab was hired as a photo journalist in Jalalabad. Before this, however, Maulana Rashid Ahmad used to bring out a weekly called ‘Golapganj Beanibazar’ Sanbad. Turab used to work in that newspaper from Beanibazar. Friend Faisal Alam is the news chief of the newspaper. One day, on the phone, Turab asked for his consent to be appointed as a staff reporter. I said easily, good boy, take care.From then on, Turab did not look back. In addition to his talent and performance, he was appointed as a staff reporter in Daily Jalalabad as a cameraman and also served as the Sylhet Bureau of Daily Naya Digant.Turab received the award from a minister of the government for being the best investigative reporter in the year 2023 after securing the first place in the country. Although Turab was in Sylhet, he used to call me once every day to consult me about various news. Some days he used to send news and ask for it to be edited. (three) This is 13 May 2024 I must be present at Turab’s wedding ceremony. So he called again and again. Call to confirm my arrival even though the groom will come out dressed. Let there be a meeting of senior journalists at the wedding ceremony. Which is proof of love for Turab. He wanted advice on how to move to London quickly after marriage. Besides talking about his wife’s work, he also talked about his English course. What hope to go to London! (four) There is an anti-quota movement in the country. Heat every where. BNP is also active in Sylhet movement. The police are also ready to resist. On July 19, after Friday prayers, BNP took out a procession at Bandar Bazar. The police prepare to resist. Journalists are active in fulfilling their professional responsibilities. Suddenly a bullet hit Turab. Turab fell to the ground. Our colleagues rescued him and first took him to Osmani Hospital. Later he was brought to Ibn Sina Hospital for advanced treatment. When his condition became critical around 2 o’clock, I called his brother Zabur and sent him to the hospital. After reaching Jabur, I started to inquire. The situation in Sylhet is turbulent. In the evening, Jabur said, Turab breathed his last after seeing him in the ICU saying the words ‘Bhai ni’.In the quota movement of the last few days, the people of Bangladesh have gone through a transitional period. The merciless behavior of the police, the shooting and killing of people was a sight to behold. Not only ordinary people, but two journalists including Turab lost their lives in police firing. The question here is whether the quota activists are being injured or killed by the police while demanding their demands? But the journalists did not take to the streets with any of their demands? Some went to the streets to eat two muttos of rice and some to fulfill their professional duties. (five)After the murder of Turab, the drama started with the case. Doubts have arisen about justice. The role of the police has been questionable since the beginning. It has been alleged that Turab is a victim of target killing. He was targeted and killed. It has also been observed in various video images. Some of Turab’s recent investigative reports have struck a chord with the police. So colleagues are not dismissing fears that he might have been shot dead. But now the cover-up about Turab’s death has started. His brother’s statement was accepted by the police as GD. 92 bullet sprinters were found on Turab. A post-mortem report has been prepared on Turab’s body. The police have made many plays with this situation. Repeatedly referring to the 4 sprinters, the police wanted to stop! Even though he could not do it on the first day in the face of obstruction and protest from the journalists, he adopted the same approach even after going to the body house. Later, the police discovered the existence of 92 sprinters in front of a doctor. The question here is that after finding 92 sprinter injury marks on a dead body, why did the police want to repeatedly write about 4 in Surathal? Why was a murder incident accepted as GD? The police have said that they will investigate the murder of Turab as a supplement to the police assault case filed by them! The question here is that BNP activists have been made defendants in the police assault case. So the journalist Turab is one of the BNP leaders and activists? Or was Turab killed by BNP’s firing? It is not uncommon to question the fairness of a murder case when it is accepted as GD. So Turab’s family raised questions about this and feared to be deprived of justice. Turab’s family and the journalist community have also raised the same question whether Turab’s murder will be covered up in the name of investigating the political case. Turab’s family will be deprived of justice. Will the soul of Turab curse the knowledge of sinners in this society?