Two journalists were allegedly handcuffed and taken to a police station in Chandina, Cumilla, after filming at the Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) office on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. The incident occurred when Abdul Alim and Russell Sarkar attempted to record the behavior of Assistant Commissioner (Land) Faisal Al Noor during a hearing related to a land mutation case. The journalists claimed their phones were seized, videos deleted, and they were released only after signing a written statement.

Faisal Al Noor stated that the journalists entered his office during a hearing and began recording without permission, which made him uncomfortable. He said he called the police, who handcuffed the men due to their unruly behavior, and that the handcuffs were removed once he learned they were journalists. Chandina Police Officer-in-Charge Atikur Rahman said police acted on the magistrate’s order. Cumilla Deputy Commissioner M. Reza Hasan acknowledged awareness of the incident and promised an inquiry.

Cumilla Press Club’s organizational secretary, Imtiaz Ahmed Jitu, condemned the incident, calling it an abuse of power and urging a fair investigation by the district administration.