Barishal journalists have warned of boycotting positive news from BNP if the false harassment case is not withdrawn.
They issued this warning during a protest human chain demanding the withdrawal of the case filed by suspended BNP leader Bilkis Jahan Shirin against senior journalist Akhtar Faruk Shahin.
The program was organized by all journalist organizations of Barisal, including the Press Club-Reporters Unity and the Journalists Union, in front of Ashwini Kumar Hall in the city at 11 am on Monday.
After the human chain, the journalist leaders submitted a memorandum to the chief advisor through Barisal Deputy Commissioner Delwar Hossain. At that time, they demanded the immediate withdrawal of the case filed, otherwise the journalist leaders warned of a strict movement.
The victim of the case filed by the BNP leader, Akhter Faruk Shahin, is the Barishal Bureau Chief of the Daily Jugantor and a senior correspondent of NTV. He published a news story in the Daily Jugantor against Bilkis Jahan Shirin, who was suspended on August 11 last year, and her family for trying to occupy a pond that was used by the people for hundreds of years. The BNP leader filed the case against Shahin in the first week of this month, 11 months after the news was published.
The protest human chain, chaired by Barisal Press Club President Aminul Islam Khasru and moderated by Barisal Journalist Forum General Secretary Shahin Hasan, was addressed by former Barisal Press Club and Barisal Lawyers Association President Manabendra Batbyal, former Press Club Presidents Kazi Meherunnesa Begum and Kazi Al Mamun, freedom fighter and veteran journalist Nurul Alam Farid, former Barisal Reporters Unity President Sushanta Ghosh and current General Secretary Khalid Saifullah, National Daily Bureau Chief Association Barisal President Pulak Chatterjee, former General Secretary Barisal Press Club Kazi Miraj Mahmud, Barisal Electronic Media Journalists Association President Murad Ahmed, Barisal Television Media Association President Humayun Kabir, Journalists Union President Azad Alauddin and General Secretary Hafizur Rahman Hira, Barisal Metropolitan Press Club General Secretary Khalilur Rahman, Barisal Journalists Forum President Nikunja Bala Palash, Journalists Union (Partial) President Saifur Rahman Miron, Barisal District President of the National Journalists Association M.R. Prince, Barisal News Editors Forum Convener Zia Shahin, Patuakhali Press Club's Jalal Ahmed, Kalapara Press Club's General Secretary Amal Mukherjee, Hijla Press Club's former president Delwar Hossain, Uzirpur Press Club's former general secretary Shakil Mahmud Bachchu, Barisal University Journalists Association's general secretary Rabiul Islam and other leaders were present.
The speakers said that filing a case as soon as news is published is a serious threat to independent journalism and an example of fascism. The July coup is proof that the voice of the media cannot be silenced by filing a case. Any angry person can go to the Press Council if they have a complaint about any news. But instead of doing so, filing a case under the criminal law against a journalist means an attempt to suppress independent journalism.
We should not hold back our pens and give them an opportunity to highlight the injustices and injustices of the country. Independent journalism must be ensured for the overall development of the country. On the contrary, if anyone obstructs our work, it will be strictly resisted. Journalist leaders warned of a strict movement if this case is not withdrawn quickly.
After the human chain, journalist leaders sent a memorandum to the Chief Advisor through the Deputy Commissioner of Barisal. In the memorandum, they requested that measures be taken to get out of the culture of lawsuits and withdraw the filed cases to ensure the safety of journalists and independent journalism.
