Journos receive compensation

Of them, Saidur Rahman Shamim of Jugantor received Tk 63874, Zahedul Islam of Independent Tk 29500, Zafar Iqbal of Sangram Tk 20300 and Abhijeet Banik of Khabarpatra Tk 9000. Maksuda Lisa of Banglabazar also received an amount.

State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar along with State Minister for Youth and Sports Fazlur Rahman and Deputy Minister for Information Abdus Salam Pintu handed over the compensation in cash to the journalists at a meeting at the home ministry.

Other journalists who will get compensation but were absent at the meeting are Anurup Titu of Purbokon, Pronob Bol of Prothom Alo, Ruhul Amin Rana of Jai Jai Din, Abu Raihan of BDNEWS, Ujjal Dhar of Naya Diganta, Rabi Shankar of Ajker Kagoj, Rajesh Chakrabarty of Samakal, Deb Prashad Das of Bangladesh Observer, Prodip Kumar Shil of Daily Life, Jahir Bhuiyan of Sangbad, Sajedul Alam Tuhin of RTV, Mujahidul Islam of Jai Jai Din and Shamsul Alam Tenku of Prothom Alo.

Compensation for sexagenarian photojournalist Jahirul Haque could not be assessed as he was staying abroad while two others Arifur Rahman Babu of Janakantha and Farzana Khan Godhuli of AFP did not claim any compensation.

The government is providing a total of Tk 6.51 lakh to 12 journalists working in Chittagong and seven in Dhaka as per a report prepared by a committee comprising government officials and journalists' leaders.

Welcoming the government step to provide compensation, leaders of Sangbadik Oikya Parishad called for taking punitive action against the policemen who were involved in the attack.

Babar thanked the parishad leaders for their cooperation to settle the matter.

Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Altaf Mahmud, Ruhul Amin Gazi, Fazle Imam, Omar Faruq and Mozammel Haq were present at the meeting.

Earlier, Bangladesh Cricket Control Board spent Tk 5,24,730 for the treatment of Anurup and Abhijeet.