The targeted media professionals have been identified as Zahid Hasan, district correspondent for The Daily Star; Bidhan Majumder, representing News 24 Television and Jago News; and Barkat Molla, district correspondent for Manabkantha.

The violence erupted at approximately 10:30 am whilst local Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders and supporters were gathering for a demonstration in front of the executive complex. Zahid Hasan recounted that he arrived at the premises to cover the rally. As he began filming and taking photographs of the procession, Arifuzzaman Molla and his associates aggressively confronted him, physically assaulting him and attempting to snatch his camera. Nearby legal practitioners intervened to rescue Hasan, escorting him safely into their offices.

Simultaneously, Bidhan Majumder was assaulted while ascending to the first floor of the administrative building to collect information. He reported being slapped, punched, and kicked out of the complex by the same group. Majumder confirmed his intention to pursue formal legal action against his attackers. Attempts to contact Arifuzzaman Molla for comment were unsuccessful as he failed to answer repeated phone calls.

The root of Tuesday’s confrontation lies in a escalating dispute between local media professionals, the district administration, and political factions. The conflict commenced on Saturday night when the Shariatpur District Administration demolished three boundary walls belonging to the Shariatpur Press Club without prior notice.

In response to the demolition, BM Israfil, a reporter for Somoy TV, posted a critical social media statement featuring images of Press Club President Abul Hossain alongside District Commissioner Tahsina Begum. Shortly after, Israfil was ambushed by unidentified assailants, sustaining severe injuries including a fractured right wrist.

Indignant over the demolition and the violent assault on their colleague, local journalists organised a human chain and protest outside the District Commissioner’s office on Sunday afternoon. When District Commissioner Tahsina Begum attempted to pass through the area during the demonstration, protesting journalists surrounded her vehicle, demanding her immediate removal from office.

This confrontation angered a local faction of the BNP, whose supporters subsequently launched online criticisms against the Press Club and targeted specific journalists. Political workers convened to organise a counter-demonstration under the banner of “Ordinary Citizens of Shariatpur District.” Hundreds gathered on Tuesday demanding disciplinary measures against journalists involved in what they termed “mobbing” the chief district official.

During the counter-rally, senior local leaders, including Shariatpur District BNP Vice-President Shah Mohammad Abdus Salam, Sadar Upazila BNP President Sirajul Haq Molla, and General Secretary Mahbub Morshed, addressed the crowd. They accused certain media representatives of acting unlawfully by surrounding the official vehicle, alleging that elements masquerading as journalists were attempting to tarnish the government’s reputation and unlawfully occupy state land under the guise of the Press Club.

Addressing the reported violence, Shah Mohammad Abdus Salam stated that while the party organised the rally to protest improper behaviour towards the District Commissioner, he possessed no knowledge of any journalists being assaulted during the event.

Conversely, Nurul Amin, General Secretary of the Shariatpur Press Club, condemned the violence as completely unacceptable. He emphasised that the journalists’ initial protest was a direct reaction to the unannounced destruction of Press Club property and the subsequent assault on a fellow reporter. Amin affirmed that the Press Club would initiate legal proceedings regarding Tuesday’s assault.

Neither District Commissioner Tahsina Begum, Superintendent of Police Rownak Jahan, nor Palang Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shah Alam responded to telephone calls or text messages requesting official statements on the matter.