Information and Broadcasting Minister Mohammad Ali Arafat today (Mar 10) sought proper investigation into the jail of Daily Desh Rupantor Nakla upazila correspondent Shafiuzzaman Rana by a mobile court.

The minister also said he is monitoring the incident.

The state minister has already talked to Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Md Abdul Malek over the incident and enquired about it, according to press release.
 
The CIC informed him that the commission has already instructed Information Commissioner Shahidul Alam Jhinuk to investigate into the matter according to the Right to Information Act-2009, the release said.

Malek said Jhinuk would visit Nakla upazila in Sherpur and concerned areas today and he will submit a report in this regard tomorrow.

Earlier, the commission has assigned Jhinuk to investigate into the incident as per the section 25(5) of the RTI Act, following publication of a report on the first page of a daily newspaper with the headline "Desh Rupantor journalist was jailed for seeking information" on Thursday (March 7).

According to the report, family members of Shafiuzzaman Rana alleged that he was sentenced to six months imprisonment by a mobile court on March 5 for seeking information from the Nakla Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) as per the RTI Act.

BDST: 1639 HRS, MAR 10, 2024
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