Rangamati Journalists Demand Release of Correspondent

Journalists in Rangamati, Bangladesh, formed a human chain on Thursday to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Saykat Ranjan Chowdhury, a local correspondent for a private television channel and the general secretary of the Rangamati Journalists' Union.

The protest, held under the banner of journalists working in the region, took place near the Rangamati Deputy Commissioner's office. Participants voiced their concern over Chowdhury's sudden arrest, which occurred without prior notification to his colleagues or family. "If Saykat has truly committed a crime, he will be punished through the proper legal process. We will accept that. But he was suddenly picked up without any of us knowing, and this simply cannot happen," stated Sushil Prasad Chakma, president of the Rangamati Reporters Unity.

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We want him to be released unconditionally and returned to his family

Saykat Ranjan Chowdhury was arrested on August 11th around 2:30 PM by a team from the Cyber Crime Unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). The arrest was made in connection with a case filed at the Shahbagh Police Station in Dhaka. Anwar Al-Haq, president of the Rangamati Press Club, presided over the human chain event, which was moderated by Mishu Dey, general secretary of the Rangamati Journalists' Association.

The demonstration garnered support from various organizations, including the District unit of the Freedom Fighters Council and the Bangladesh Buddhist Cultural Association, who expressed solidarity with the journalists' demands. M Jisan Bakhteyar, secretary of the Rangamati district committee of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan), also spoke at the event, emphasizing the call for Chowdhury's return to his family.

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If Saykat has truly committed a crime, he will be punished through the proper legal process. We will accept that. But he was suddenly picked up without any of us knowing, and this simply cannot happen