Hasina’s advisor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury taken into DB custody
Ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s information advisor and veteran journalist leader Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury. Collected photo.
Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s information advisor and veteran journalist leader Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury has been taken to the Detective Branch (DB) office of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
He was taken from the office of private television channel DBC. However, it was not immediately made clear what allegations or charges led him to DB custody.
Meanwhile, DBC’s special correspondent Rajib Ghosh was also reportedly taken away from the DBC office by individuals identifying themselves as members of the Detective Police.
When asked about the matter, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner (Detective) Mohammad Shafiqul Islam said that the DMP’s media wing would speak about the issue.
At around 3:30pm, DMP Media Wing Deputy Commissioner Akhtar Hossain said: “Following an unexpected incident, he (Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury) has been brought to the DB office. Further action will be taken after questioning. That is what I have been informed by my senior.”
Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, a former editor of The Bangladesh Observer, was appointed Sheikh Hasina’s information advisor in July 2013. Earlier, he contested the 2008 parliamentary election from Feni Sadar with an Awami League nomination but was defeated.
During his long career in journalism, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury played an important role in leading the country’s journalists’ organisations. He served in leadership positions at the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) and the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ). He also served as chairman of the board of directors of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).
He currently holds an important position at DBC News.
