Entertainment Correspondent:
 
The Multimedia Reporters Council formed a human chain and held a protest rally demanding a fair investigation and justice over allegations that actress Shamsunnahar Smrity, popularly known as Pori Moni, assaulted and harassed Raju, a multimedia reporter of Samakal.
 
The protesters also called for ensuring journalists' safety while performing their professional duties and taking exemplary action against those responsible for attacks and harassment of media workers.
 
The programme was held in front of the National Press Club on Friday (November 6, 2026), with multimedia reporters and journalists from different media outlets taking part.
 
Addressing the gathering, journalist leaders demanded an impartial investigation into the allegations, appropriate legal action against the accused and effective measures to protect journalists from intimidation and physical attacks.
 
Senior Reporter Al Amin M Tawhid spoke as a special guest, while Mohammad Khoka, a reporter of Desh Rupantor and adviser to the Multimedia Reporters Council, attended as the chief guest. Leaders of the organisation and multimedia reporters from various media outlets also addressed the rally.
 
In his speech, Mohammad Khoka said journalists could not be expected to tolerate attacks, harassment or intimidation while carrying out their professional responsibilities.
 
"Ensuring an environment in which media workers can perform their duties independently is the responsibility of the state and all concerned parties. Whenever allegations of attacks or harassment against journalists arise, those responsible must be held accountable through an impartial investigation," he said.
 
Al Amin M Tawhid said attempts to silence journalists or obstruct their professional duties must not be allowed to prevent the publication of the truth.
 
He stressed the need for effective measures to ensure journalists' safety and called for a fair investigation into the allegations involving Raju and justice for the reporter.
 
The rally concluded with demands for an impartial investigation into the allegations against Pori Moni, a fair judicial process and adequate security for journalist Raju.
 
Among those present were the council's adviser Mohammad Khoka, President Mohammad Ali Azgar, General Secretary GM Rashed and Finance Secretary Mohammad Asaduzzaman Sheikh, along with other leaders and members of the organisation.