Lalmonirhat Correspondent 

A human chain protest was held in Lalmonirhat demanding the immediate withdrawal of  false and conspiratorial cases filed against Dr. Mahmudur Rahman, the embattled editor and publisher of the daily Amar Desh, and other journalists of the newspaper.

The demonstration was held  at Mission Mor intersection in Lalmonirhat town on Thursday, from 10 am to 11am.

Speakers at the protest urged the authorities to immediately drop all fabricated charges against Ekushey Padak-winning journalist Dr. Mahmudur Rahman and his colleagues, calling the cases politically motivated and an attack on press freedom.

Organized by Pathokmela Lalmonirhat District Unit and moderated by senior journalist and Amar Desh Lalmonirhat district correspondent Hasan Ul Aziz, the event was attended by a range of media professionals and civil society representatives.

Among the speakers were former General Secretary of Lalmonirhat Press Club and senior journalist Ahmedur Rahman Mukul, senior journalist Md Lavlu Sheikh, Executive Editor of Weekly Lalmonir Kantho Md Mofizur Rahman GS Babu, district correspondent of Naya Diganta Md Asadul Islam Shuvo, Editor of Weekly Alor Moni Masud Rana Rashed, district correspondent of My TV and The Observer Mahfuz Saju, senior journalists Motahar Hossain and Riazul Islam, Pathokmela president and Fulbari College lecturer Harun Ur Rashid, NGO official Aminul Haque, and former chairman of Palashi Union Golam Mostafa, among others.

Speakers warned that if the cases against Amar Desh are not withdrawn immediately, journalists across the country will not remain silent. They issued a stern warning of a widespread movement against what they described as authoritarian repression and curbs on freedom of expression.