Dhaka, Feb 25 (.) The Editor’s Council of Bangladesh has demanded the withdrawal of false cases filed against journalists across the country, since the end of the July Uprising on August 5, 2024.
The watchdog authority noted that numerous journalists have been implicated in false murder and other harassment cases in different parts of the country.
As a consequence, many journalists are currently on the run, while many have either been incarcerated for over one and a half years on false charges or forced to come to court regularly.
The body, citing strong frustrations over the ongoing harassment of media personnel, called it disruptive to their profession, as well as directly undermining the right to free speech, restricting the flow of information, and a violation of the media’s independence under the constitution.
Petitioning the newly elected government to treat the matter with utmost importance and seriousness, the council asked it to take prompt steps to withdraw false and harassing cases filed against journalists and publications.
Signed by Nurul Kabir, president of the Editors’ Council, and Dewan Hanif Mahmud, its general secretary, the statement released by the council read: “The Editors’ Council had repeatedly urged the interim government to withdraw false and politically motivated cases and to take effective measures to stop the harassment of journalists.
Although the government assured that the cases would be reviewed and that appropriate steps would be taken to withdraw false and harassing cases, the expected progress has not been seen in this regard.
The body noted that if there are any specific, evidence-based allegations against any journalist, then those should be addressed strictly in accordance with the law, and with a transparent judicial process, calling the filing of politically motivated, harassment-driven cases unacceptable.
. . .