Journalist hospitalized following targeted assault in Patuakhali

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Moazzem Hossain, a secondary school teacher and local journalist in Patuakhali’s Kalapara upazila, is receiving treatment at Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital following a brutal assault on Saturday night. The attack, which occurred near the municipal fish market on Sadar Road, has been linked to internal grievances involving local student political leaders.

According to Hossain, who serves as a correspondent for the newspaper *Ajker Patrika*, he was inside a mobile phone shop at approximately 8:30 p.m. when a group of 10 to 12 individuals approached him. He identified the assailants as being led by Amirul Islam Fahim, the general secretary of the Kalapara upazila unit of the Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), and Bellal Hossain, the general secretary of the Government Mozaher Uddin Biswas College branch of the same organization. Hossain alleges that the group forcibly dragged him into the street and beat him severely. Despite his attempts to seek refuge back inside the shop, the attackers reportedly pulled him out a second time to continue the assault, inflicting significant injuries to his head and body.

Hossain maintains that the violence stems from an ongoing dispute following a June 21 attack on the home and shop of his brother-in-law, Anisur Rahman, an incident for which he had previously held Bellal Hossain responsible. Fearing for his safety, the journalist is now under medical supervision after an initial assessment at the Kalapara Upazila Health Complex indicated head trauma and multiple contusions.

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Local political figures have expressed concern over the incident. Kalapara Upazila BNP President Humayun Shikdar visited the hospital and condemned the violence, promising that the party would take organizational action against those responsible. Similarly, Patuakhali District JCD member secretary Zakaria Ahmed labeled the event “regrettable” and stated that an internal investigation is underway.

Bellal Hossain has denied involvement, claiming he was in Barishal for an examination at the time of the attack and describing the allegations as part of a conspiracy. Amirul Islam Fahim declined to comment on the matter. Meanwhile, local law enforcement has launched a formal investigation into the assault, with Kalapara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nazrul Islam confirming that the case is being treated as a priority.