At least four filmmakers, including human rights activist and Maayer Daak member Mosfiqur Rahman Johan, were reportedly attacked at the Department of Films and Publications (DFP) while attempting to collect outstanding payments for a documentary on the July Uprising.
The incident took place around 6:30pm yesterday (30 March) inside the office of DFP Director General Khaleda Begum.
According to a complaint filed by the victim Johan with Ramna Police Station on the same night, the attack was allegedly carried out by a group of local Chhatra Dal activists led by DFP cameraman Md Mashiur Rahman.
The accused cameraman, Md Mashiur Rahman, has been suspended following the incident, according to a circular issued by the DFP yesterday.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Ramna Zone) Md Mazharul Islam of Dhaka Metropolitan Police told The Business Standard, “We have received a written complaint. The matter is under investigation.”
In his statement, Johan said he had been commissioned by the DFP, under the information ministry, to produce a documentary on the July Uprising. He completed the work and submitted it long ago.
“Yesterday, we went to the DFP office to collect the outstanding payment. Several other filmmakers were also present for the same reason,” he said.
He alleged that although they had been called at 2pm, no proceedings began until 6pm, and discussions only started after the director general arrived.
“At that point, DFP cameraman Mashiur Rahman threatened us and pressured the director general not to release our due government payments. He asked us to leave and threatened to have us physically removed if we did not comply,” Johan added.
He further alleged that when they refused to leave the DG’s office, Mashiur Rahman called in 30-40 individuals who then carried out the attack.
“During the assault, Golap Shah suffered a head injury, Abdur Rahman sustained facial injuries, and I was also hurt. They also deleted CCTV footage from the room. The attackers fled when police arrived,” he claimed.
No statement from the accused cameraman Md Mashiur Rahman could be obtained.
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