Journo Ariful jailed: Primary probe report on Sunday

The government has ordered the Rangpur Divisional Commissioner to submit a report within 24 hours after investigating the incident of jailing journalist Ariful Islam in Kurigram by a mobile court, set up in the dead of night.

Additional Secretary A Gaffar Khan of the Cabinet Division, who is responsible for district and field administration, confirmed the news on Saturday.

Rangpur Divisional Commissioner KM Tariqul Islam said, “An additional divisional commissioner is already in Kurigram to investigate the matter. Hope, we will be able to send the probe report to the cabinet division within tonight (Saturday).”

A joint secretary of the cabinet division said the incident has embarrassed the government and the administration. The operation of a mobile court at midnight is illegal. Nobody is above the law.

Ariful, Kurigram district correspondent at online news portal Bangla Tribune, was sent to jail soon after the mobile court, set up at the office of Kurigram deputy commissioner, ended the trial proceedings on Saturday morning.

The mobile court, set up in the dead of night, has jailed the journalist for a year, after several Ansar members led by magistrates picked him up from his house.

The mobile court brought an allegation against the journalist that drugs were recovered from his possession, which his family termed as absurd.

Family members said the Ansar members led by the magistrate started to push the door indiscriminately in the midnight. At one stage, they broke the door and picked Ariful up forcibly.

Dhaka/Asad/AKA