Journalist brutally killed after reporting on extortion in Gazipur

In a shocking act of violence, journalist Md. Asaduzzaman Tuhin (38), a staff reporter for Dainik Protidiner Kagoj, was hacked to death by a group of miscreants on Thursday night around 8:30 PM at the bustling Chandna Chowrasta area of Gazipur city.

Earlier that afternoon, Tuhin had gone live on Facebook exposing alleged extortion from local shops and footpaths in the same area. Just hours after the live broadcast, he was chased by 5–6 attackers with sharp weapons and took shelter inside a tea stall. Eyewitnesses confirmed that the assailants followed him in and stabbed him repeatedly, killing him on the spot before fleeing. Local shopkeeper Khairul Islam recounted, “Tuhin ran into my shop for help. Three men followed him and began stabbing him brutally inside. Two others waited outside with machetes. When I tried to intervene, they threatened to kill me as well.” Tuhin’s final Facebook posts included a video of reckless road-crossing in Chowrasta and a critical comment on the lack of drainage repairs at Joydebpur, accusing authorities of negligence.

Law enforcement has obtained video footage and initial leads. Deputy Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police Md. Robiul Hasan stated, “Such a brutal killing of a journalist is deeply saddening. We have launched a manhunt to identify and arrest the perpetrators.”

This heinous act is not just a murder—it is a grave violation of human rights and freedom of the press. Silencing a journalist for exposing corruption strikes at the core of democracy. The killing has raised serious concerns about the safety of media personnel and the culture of impunity.

Urgent Need for Action

• Immediate and transparent investigation to bring all attackers to justice.
• Ensure full legal protection for journalists, especially those exposing corruption.
• Form a special task force to monitor threats against media personnel.
• Introduce emergency response protocols for journalists reporting on crime and corruption.

Without urgent action, this tragedy may set a dangerous precedent for freedom of expression in Bangladesh.