Journalists of Chapainawabganj have decided to boycott all programmes of Abdul Odud, lawmaker from C h a p a i n a w a b g a n j - 3 (Sadar) constituency, as he assaulted a local journalist at the office of Sadar upazila primary education office in the town yesterday.

Around 10:30am, Emran Faruk Masum, district correspondent of the Dainik Jugantor and private television channel RTV, went to collect news as Debesh Sarkar, assistant director of the Directorate of Primary Education, came to investi-

gate alleged irregularities and corruption of a primary school headmaster in the town, said Masum and witnesses.

Local lawmaker Abdul Odud and Emran Faruk Masum engaged in a heated exchange in presence of the officials there.

"At one stage, the lawmaker and his associate assaulted me. Officials present there tried to save me, but failed. Then 1 fled away to the upazila chairman's office for safety," said Masum.

Contacted, Abdul Odud, lawmaker of Chapainawabganj-3 constituency said, "I beat Masum as he misbehaved

with me."

Immediately after the incident, journalists of Chapainawabganj Press Club and Chapainawabganj Zila Press Club gathered at Town Club and decided to form a human chain in the town today and boycott all programmes of the lawmaker in protest at the incident.

Abdus Sattar Sarkar, district primary education officer, said the investigation official came to Chapainawabganj for investigation after a man lodged complaint with the Directorate of Primary Education against the headmaster of a government primary school in the town.