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The Editors’ Council has condemned the killing of journalist Lutforzzaman Alif Fakir, calling for an impartial investigation, the immediate arrest of those responsible and exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.
In a statement on Sunday (October 18), the council expressed deep shock over the murder, describing it as not only the loss of a human life but also a serious blow to independent journalism, freedom of expression and the public’s right to information.
“Ensuring the safety of journalists is one of the key responsibilities of a democratic state,” the statement said.
The council urged the government and law enforcement agencies to take immediate and effective steps to protect journalists and ensure that those involved in the killing, directly or indirectly, are brought to justice.
Lutforzzaman, the Netrokona correspondent for private IPTV channel Ruposhi Bangla, was shot dead by unidentified assailants at Uttarail Bazaar in Durgapur upazila of Netrokona on October 15.
According to reports, two young men arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire on him at a shop beside the Shyamganj-Birishiri road in Kalkamanda Municipality at around 8:15pm before fleeing the scene. Locals rushed to the spot after hearing the gunshots.
The journalist had previously been targeted in an attack. On November 10 last year, assailants armed with sharp weapons injured him in the Teribazar Ghat area of the Someshwari River.
The council’s statement renewed concerns over journalists’ safety and the need for accountability for attacks on media professionals.