Leading human rights organization Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) has expressed profound concern and vehement condemnation over the fatal shooting of journalist Lutfuzzaman Alif Fakir in Durgapur upazila of Netrokona. In a formal statement issued on Friday, the rights body pressed for an immediate, impartial, and effective investigation to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
Alif Fakir, who served as the Netrokona correspondent for the private IPTV channel Rupshi Bangla, was shot dead on the night of October 15 in the Telonjia area of Durgapur. The organization noted with grave alarm that the journalist had previously survived an assault in November 2025. The failure of authorities to secure his safety following that prior attack, culminating ultimately in his murder, represents an deeply alarming security lapse.
Emphasizing the broader implications of the crime, ASK underscored that murdering a journalist transcends the loss of an individual life, serving instead as a perilous blow to independent journalism, freedom of expression, and the public's right to information. The rights group warned that impunity for violence against media workers fosters a culture of fear, which ultimately obstructs the unhindered dissemination of facts, democratic accountability, and the rule of law.
The statement further pointed out that the right to life, freedom of expression, and freedom of the press are formally guaranteed under Articles 32 and 39 of the Constitution of Bangladesh, as well as under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Safeguarding these fundamental rights, providing robust protection to journalists, and ensuring effective investigations and trials for any acts of violence remain profound constitutional obligations of the state.
Addressing the imperative for judicial accountability, ASK Executive Director Faruque Ahmed asserted that investigations into such egregious incidents must be entirely free from negligence, undue influence, or bias. He stressed that every individual connected to the homicide must be promptly identified and prosecuted to establish rule of law. Concluding the statement, ASK called upon the relevant authorities to cultivate a secure environment wherein media professionals can discharge their duties without facing threats or vulnerability.
