The leaders of Khulna Press Club have expressed strong condemnation, protest and anger over the attack, vandalism, arson and looting in Khulna Press Club. On August 4, Khulna Press Club was vandalized and set on fire. On August 5, the attackers vandalized all the rooms of the club including office room, IT center, VIP room, Humayun Kabir Balu auditorium, Shahabuddin Ahmed auditorium, Liaquat Ali auditorium, guest room.
The assailants looted the club’s computers, televisions, ACs, fans, refrigerators, telephone sets, keywatch machines, water filters, photocopy machines, IPS and batteries, chair-tables, sofas, closed circuit cameras and DVRs, among others. Due to their arson, the club’s ledgers, important files, papers, documents, bank check books and furniture were burnt to ashes.
The leaders of Khulna Press Club have issued a statement expressing strong condemnation and anger in this incident.
The leaders said in the statement that Khulna Press Club is known as the second home of journalists. People from all walks of life, including political, social and cultural organizations, travel to this press club. This type of attack there is very sad and reprehensible.
In the statement, the leaders said, after the attackers turned the Khulna Press Club into a pile of rubble, the leaders and activists of the anti-discrimination student movement cleaned the Press Club for 2 days. Khulna Press Club will forever remember their tireless efforts. Besides, during this movement, the students and journalists, including those who were killed, prayed for the salvation of their souls. Wishing those injured good treatment and speedy recovery.
At the same time, besides strongly condemning the recent attacks on several media offices and journalists in various places including Khulna, the cooperation of all concerned is requested to ensure that the freedom of the media is not disturbed.
The speakers are Khulna Press Club President SM Nazrul Islam, Senior Vice President SM Sahid Hossain, Vice President Md. Zahidul Islam and Mozammel Haque Howladar, General Secretary Mamun Reza, Joint Secretary Mahbubur Rahman Munna, Treasurer SM Kamal Hossain, Assistant Secretary Anwarul Islam Kajal, Sheikh Tauhidul Islam Tuhin, AHM Shamimuzzaman and Sheikh Md. Salim, executive member veteran freedom fighter Maqbul Hossain Mintu, Sheikh Abu Hasan, SM Zahid Hossain, Mallik Sudhanshu, Hasan Ahmed Molla, Mohammad Ali Soni, Asif Kabir, Md. Tariqul Islam, Md. Mizanur Rahman Milton, Sohrab Hossain, Md. Shah Alam, Rakib Uddin Pannu, Bimal Saha and Sheikh Mahmud Hasan Sohel.
