Pressure to stop news on Bangladesh Railway irregularities, attempts to manage with money, threats and GD allegations after publication.

Special Correspondent,Chattogram. There have been allegations of pressure on journalists, attempts to 'manage' the issue in exchange for money, lobbying and threats through various means, centered on publishing news on the allegations of railway land encroachment, illegal construction of structures and renting government quarters in the Ambagan area of Chittagong city. Journalist Md. Amjad Hossain alleged that after collecting information and taking the initiative to publish news on irregularities related to railway land and government quarters, concerned assistant teacher Nigat Sultana's brother, railway officer Md. Sharif, exerted pressure in various ways not to publish the news. It is also alleged that he introduced himself as a person involved in local student politics and lobbied for a resolution to the matter. The journalist claimed that at one stage, he was offered to 'manage' the news in exchange for money. However, since he did not agree to this, attempts were made to stop the publication of the news by calling various local leaders and known media workers several times. Journalist Md. Amjad Hossain alleged that Md. Sharif threatened to 'take him to task' when the news on the related issue was published. At the same time, he alleged that Nigat Sultana and her husband CRB Railway officer Md. Mozammel Hossain threatened to implicate him in a false case. Meanwhile, Khulshi Police Station SI Md. Shahparan said that on September 16, Nigat Sultana, an assistant teacher at Chittagong Pahartali Railway High School, filed a general diary (GD) against journalist Md. Amjad Hossain. He said that the GD mentioned allegations of eve-teasing by sending messages on the phone at night. However, journalist Md. Amjad Hossain denied the allegation and said that such allegations were made against him only after publishing a report on public interest related to railway government property and quarters. He claims that the GD has been filed to harass him in the wake of pressure and threats to stop publishing news. Journalist Md. Amjad Hossain alleged that the pressure, offers of money, lobbying and threats to stop publishing news after publishing information on irregularities related to government property are worrying for the environment of independent journalism. He demanded an impartial investigation into the incident, verification of the factual information and ensuring his safety as a journalist.