Own reporter: Sanatani Samaj and Chattala residents have demanded the arrest of controversial journalist Ayan Sharma, an accused in the case related to the murder of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif. At the same time, they have also demanded the cancellation of the registration of ‘Chittagong Pratidin’ and ‘Alokit Chattala’ newspapers.
This demand was made during the human chain program organized in front of the Chittagong District Commissioner’s office on Sunday afternoon. The program was organized by Sanatani Samaj and Bir Chattala residents. After the human chain, a memorandum was submitted to the Chittagong District Commissioner with the same demand.
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The speakers at the human chain said that the news portal ‘Chittagong Pratidin’, which is known for its false propaganda and attempts to create riots and division among the Sanatani community around Janmashtami. Ayan Sharma, an accused in the lawyer Alif murder case, must be arrested immediately.
The human chain was presided over by Dolan Deb, a lifelong member of the Janmashtami Udjawan Parishad. Bappi De, Sabrat Aich, Saurabh Priyo Pal, Mithun Vaishnav, Engineer Sanjay Chakraborty Manik, Prashant Pandey, Biplob Chowdhury Billu, Apu Chowdhury Akash, Mitan Ravi Das, Rubel Pal, Saikat Bose, Prabash Das, Sagar Das, Sukanta Talukder Jewel, Royal Kumar Pal, Smriti De Priya, Panna Das, Dolly Das, Apu Das, Archana Das, Mina Biswas and others spoke at the human chain.
Who is this Ayan Sharma?
Ayan Sharma is the central organizing secretary of the Bangabandhu Cultural League. Various allegations against him, including extortion, harassment of businessmen, and drug dealing, have been floating on social media for a long time. In 2003, the media reported that he had disappeared with 3 lakh taka in the name of a concert to help helpless people. In addition, in December 2004, he demanded a ransom of 20,000 taka from a policeman of Pahartali police station in Chittagong.
There are also allegations of rape, kidnapping, intimidation, harassment of people, incitement to religious riots, and friendship with drugs and terrorists against Ayan Sharma.
The victims claim that the alleged journalist Ayan Sharma is carrying out these crimes under the cover of the noble profession of journalism. In 2004, he had given a bond at the Chittagong Press Club that he would not associate his tarnished name with journalism again, but he broke his promise and got involved in various crimes again.
In 2008, a woman filed a case in a Dhaka court alleging that she had been asked to marry him by making fake marriage documents. Later, a settlement was reached with the woman’s family.
It is alleged that he used the influence of journalism to form a syndicate of those involved in the crimes. Through them, extortion and drug trafficking are carried out anonymously in different areas. In the name of publishing news, he regularly attacks the character of political leaders, businessmen and prominent people of the society. These attacks are usually directed at people from various levels of the BNP-Jamaat and the current government.
Demand for extortion from the police (2004)
On December 24, 2004, Ayan Sharma took an extortion of Tk 20,000 from an ASI of the then Pahartali police station. When the ASI complained to the Journalists’ Union, the then leaders of the union produced Ayan Sharma and his associates at the Journalists’ Union office in the Press Club Bhaban. There, he confessed to the crime and gave a bond promising not to engage in such activities in the future. After this incident, news with his picture was published in local and national dailies.
Evidence of extortion in DB investigation
Ayan Sharma filed a complaint against the then General Secretary of the Journalists’ Union at Panchlaish and Kotwali police stations for giving an undertaking at the Press Club. On September 13, 2005, the then Police Commissioner ordered an investigation into this complaint. On October 19 of the same year, the then Senior Assistant Police Commissioner of DB, AKM Mosharraf Hossain Miyaji, submitted an investigation report. The investigation identified Ayan Sharma as an “extortionist posing as a journalist”. The report said that Ayan Sharma used to extort and intimidate people by posing as a journalist. He wasted the time of people and important government departments by making false allegations. Investigating his false allegations does nothing but waste government paper and valuable time.
Recently, at a program at Premier University, Chittagong City Corporation Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain brought the issue of this newspaper to the public. He said, “We have heard the name Bangladesh Pratidin. Now we hear about the infamous newspaper Chittagong Pratidin. It has never been printed as a daily newspaper. This online newspaper named Chittagong Pratidin has been extorting for a long time. It is harassing, defaming and blackmailing businessmen. It is carrying out various anti-national conspiracies with the money collected.
Incidentally, although the declaration of daily newspapers named ‘Chittagong Pratidin’ and ‘Alokit Chittagong’ was taken, the newspapers were never printed. The two organizations owned by Ayan Sharma introduced themselves as daily newspapers by publishing news online. Bandarban District Awami League President Kyashihla Marma had invested a large amount in Chittagong Pratidin. Although the name of former Chairman of the Hill District Council Kyashihla Marma was on the online editorial board list, it was removed after August 5. In addition, there is a rumor that Jubo League leader of the Chawkbazar area, drug dealer Delwar Hossain Farhad, is also involved in the ownership of this organization.
