Journalists from different print, electronic, and online media have issued a statement protesting against threats to various media outlets and attacks on media offices and demanding bail for imprisoned journalists.
The statement, signed by 51 journalists on Monday, protested against murder cases, dismissals, killings of journalists, torture, and harassment against journalists.
At the same time, it was also demanded to open the office of the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), which has been locked for 11 months. The statement was sent to the media by Bengal News 24 Editor Taimur Faruk Tushar.
The statement said: “We, journalists from various media outlets, are observing with deep concern that the country is now hostage to mob terrorism. The media is also not out of this hostage situation. The journalist community is in a frightening situation due to incidents such as murder cases, dismissals, attacks on media offices, killings and torture of journalists. Mob terrorists have slaughtered cows in front of the offices of several top newspapers in the country and organised a banquet-like event. Mob terrorists identified by public announcements are committing these incidents. But they are not being brought under the law. Therefore, it is not unreasonable to assume that some powerful group is sponsoring these.โ
It says: โAccording to news published in local and foreign media and claims by rights activists, 10 journalists were killed between July and December last year. In the last 11 months, at least 412 journalists have been accused in various harassment cases, including the lynching case, across the country. 39 journalists were arrested. The Ministry of Information has cancelled the press accreditation cards of 168 journalists. The membership of 101 journalists has been suspended, cancelled or expelled from press clubs across the country, including the National Press Club. More than 300 journalists have faced restrictions on travelling abroad. The bank accounts of more than 100 journalists have been frozen. More than a thousand journalists have been fired in the last 11 months. The media and journalistsโ organisations have been taken over by mob terrorism. The Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) office has been locked for 11 months.โ
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The statement further said: โEvery citizen of the country has the right to legal remedy or bail. But journalists imprisoned for unknown reasons are being deprived of that right. Journalists are being imprisoned for months without trial. These are clear violations of human rights. We had hoped that the interim government would rise above party affiliation and bring this mob terrorism under control, protect media workers from being subjected to various forms of oppression and harassment, and provide job security. So that journalists can do objective journalism without fear. But even after almost a year since the interim government took power, there is no significant improvement in the situation. As a result, we are deeply concerned.โ
It said: โWe demand justice for all journalist murders and torture, condemn the harassment of journalists, and grant bail to imprisoned journalists. We call on the government to ensure media freedom and stop the harassment of journalists. Take action against those who are openly threatening and trying to intimidate the media. Avoid trying to silence journalists’ voices with political tags.โ
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The statement was signed (not in order of seniority) by Abu Zafar Surya, former president of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), Syed Shukur Ali Shuvo, former president and former general secretary of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), senior journalist Nazrul Kabir, editor-in-chief of Bangla Insider Syed Borhan Kabir, general secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), Akhter Hossain, former president of Dhaka Sub-Editors Council (DSEC), Zakir Hossain Emon, president of TV Camera Journalists Association (TCA), Mohammad Faruk Hossain (Tanvir), former organizing secretary of DRU and editor of Daily Spokesperson Sheikh Jamal, joint secretary general of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), Mohsin Kazi, vice president of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), Mahmudul Alam Nayan, senior journalist and liberation war researcher Jamal Uddin, Khulna President of the Journalists Union Saiduzzaman Samrat, President of Brahmanbaria Journalists Union Deepak Chowdhury Bappi, General Secretary of Brahmanbaria Journalists Union Farhadul Islam Parvez, President of Chittagong Journalists Union Riaz Haider Chowdhury, Senior Journalist Nizamul Haque Bipul, Joint General Secretary of the National Press Club Md. Ashraf Ali, senior journalist Mainul Hossain Pinnu, general secretary of Gazipur Union of Journalists Abdus Salam Shanto, former joint general secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Khairul Alam, senior journalist Toufiq Maruf, senior journalist Riazul Bashar, treasurer of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Soheli Chowdhury, organizing secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Golam Mujtaba Dhrubo, general secretary of Television Producers Association (TPA) Israfil Shahin, former law secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Saif Ali, former publicity secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Raju Hamid, former public welfare secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Zubair Chowdhury, former general secretary of Dhaka Sub-Editors Council AKM Obaidur Rahman, former sports and cultural secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Rezaul Karim Reza, freelance journalist Sajeda Parveen, senior editor of All News Reporter Md. Ramzan Ali, Chief Correspondent of Daily Dhaka Gazi Tushar Ahmed, Warechchunnabi Khandaker of GTV, Pradeep Chowdhury of Sakal Sandhya, Dhaka.
On July 2, some 88 expatriate journalists, writers, teachers-researchers, and cultural and rights activists in a joint statement condemned the interim government, led by Nobel Peace laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, for the indescribable persecution of journalists.
โIn the history of our land, such persecution, oppression, job losses, and attempts to silence the media and stop the pens have not occurred before. We are not aware of such incidents happening anywhere in the democratic world. We strongly condemn and protest against the unprecedented persecution of journalists and the suppression of freedom of speech,โ the statement said.
During the 11 months of the government, at least 412 journalists have been made defendants in various harassment cases, including murder cases; 39 journalists have been arrested; travel bans have been imposed on over three hundred journalists; bank accounts of over a hundred journalists have been seized; and harassment cases of corruption have been filed with the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Moreover, over 1,000 journalists across the country, including in Dhaka, have been dismissed from their jobs; press accreditation cards of 168 journalists have been canceled; membership of 101 journalists has been suspended, canceled, or expelled from press clubs across the country, including the National Press Club; and unprecedented incidents like media takeovers have occurred in Bangladesh.
During the July-August movement and in the subsequent period, 10 journalists were killed, and countless journalists were injured, but the government did not extend any assistance to the affected journalists or their families; rather, the scope of persecution has only expanded, they said.
The signatories include, among others, Syed Badrul Ahsan, Senior Journalist, Researcher, and Writer, UK; Dr. Mukid Chowdhury, Fiction Writer, Essayist, and Researcher, UK; Sujat Mansur, Journalist and Essayist, UK; Ashequn Nabi Chowdhury, Journalist, UK; Shaugat Ali Sagor, Journalist, Publisher & Editor In Chief, Notundesh, Canada; Dr. Rayhan Rashid, Lawyer & Rights Activist, UK; Sabbir Khan, Journalist and Writer, Sweden; Azam Khan, Blogger and Activist, Switzerland; Freedom Fighter Dr. Nurun Nabi, Ekushey Padak-Winning Writer and Scientist, USA; Freedom Fighter Tazul Imam, Lyricist, Composer, and Vocalist, USA; Dr. Niru K. Nahar, Writer & Research Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Dr. Raihan Jamil, Educator, Researcher, and Writer, USA; Taimur Faruk Tusher, Journalist and Presenter, USA; Sagar Lohani, Journalist, Editor & Publisher, Bangalianaa, USA; Harun Al Rashid, Fiction Writer and Former Diplomat, Canada; Afsana Kishwar Lochan, Journalist and Presenter, Canada; Fazlul Bari, Journalist, Australia; Ajoy Dasgupta, Essayist, Columnist, Rhymester and Media Personality, Australia; and Abul Hasnat Milton, Poet and Physician, Australia.
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