After being held in DB custody for nearly 10 and a half hours without any charges, Mijanur Rahman Sohel—Media Consultant of the mobile handset traders’ association Business Community Bangladesh (MBCB) and Online Head of the popular daily Vorer Kagoj—was reportedly dropped off at his home “with honor”.
He alleges that he was picked up from his residence late at night under instructions from a special assistant to the chief adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, with the intention of stopping a press conference opposing the NEIR system.
Sources confirm that the said special assistant is Fayez Ahmed Tayyab.
In a Facebook post, he wrote that around 12 AM on Tuesday, 5–6 DB members forcibly took him from his home, using the excuse that “the DB chief wants to speak to you.” Upon reaching the DB office, his name was entered into the detainee register, and he was kept in the cell after removing his shoes and belt.
Journalist Mijanur Rahman Sohel said, “I had no idea why I was detained—neither the officers who picked me up nor their superiors could explain it.”
Only after several hours did he understand that he had been detained to give monopoly advantages to just nine mobile handset businessmen on the ‘signal’ of a government adviser. The organization’s secretary, Abu Sayed Pias, was also detained and is reportedly still in DB custody.
Picked Up Even Before the Anti-NEIR Program Began
A press conference by MBCB opposing the National Equipment Identification Register (NEIR)—a mobile handset registration project—was scheduled to be held on Wednesday at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU). Sohel was present there as the media consultant.
He claims the primary aim of his detention was to stop the press conference.
“But instead,” he said, “the entire country came to know what they tried to suppress.”
NEIR Project Goes Against Free Trade
He said the NEIR project conflicts with Bangladesh’s free trade policy and the spirit of the Competition Commission.
“To grant undue benefits to just nine businessmen, a deep conspiracy is underway to destroy the livelihoods of 25,000 traders across the country. If implemented, rural communities, expatriates, and general buyers will suffer the most,” he claimed.
He also alleged that one of these nine businessmen is a school friend of the government adviser.
Silenced in the Name of Free Speech
Criticizing the late-night arrest, he asked: “Why is the government so afraid when someone speaks out against a business syndicate? Did they really need to abduct me at midnight just to stop a press conference?”
He added,“Those who preach about freedom of speech—did they try to silence me instead? The country now feels like a lawless wilderness.”
Public Support Led to His Quick Release — He Believes
As the news of his detention spread, colleagues, friends, journalists, and well-wishers expressed concern, wrote posts, issued statements, and published reports.
He believes, “It is because of people’s support and their voices that I was released quickly.”
He expressed gratitude to everyone.
