Staff Correspondent

A professional rights body - "Journalists for Justice- (J for J)" has formally started its journey aiming to work for the rights of the journalists oppressed and victimized by the ousted government.

J for J Convener Kazi Jasin announced the journey of the organisation at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) here today.

Speaking at the press conference, she said for the past two decades, many journalists and news workers have been subjected to various forms of torture and harassment in Bangladesh.

But, Jasin said, the unfortunate thing is that nobody knows the actual number of the journalists who were oppressed in the last 15 years.

And not only the journalists, even their family members faced lawsuits, attacks and harassment, she said, adding that many journalists were forced to go abroad to escape the persecution that came upon them due to their professional duties.

The family members of journalists Tasneem Khalil, Zulkarnain Sayer, Kanak Sarwar and many others were victimised due to torture of law enforcing agencies and ruling party cadres in the country, she said.

Jasin said many media outlets including Daily Amar Desh and Diganta TV were shut down, while many journalists were sacked.

She said the purpose of this organisation is to collect detailed information of such persecuted and affected journalists so that they get proper justice and compensation.

“At the same time, we will work under the interim government and any future government to ensure that journalists are not persecuted for their professional works. If they are persecuted, they would get justice,” she said.

J for J joint convener Alfaz Anam and its members Jahed Chowdhury, Aliullah Noman, Maruf Mallik and Ehsan Mahmud also spoke at the press conference.

Jahed Chowdhury said the forum will constantly focus on the incidents of harassment of journalists in the past years.

“We will be vocal about getting compensation for the journalists who lost their job and we will work tirelessly with the government and other stakeholders to ensure that the oppressed journalists get due justice,” he said.

Chowdhury urged the government to take steps to withdraw the false cases filed against the victimised Amar Desh Editor Mahmudur Rahman.

“We are speaking freely today for the sake of the sacrifice of students. Their sacrifice cannot fall flat,” Noman said.

He said the ousted Awami League government forcibly shut down many media outlets violating laws.

“We need to be alert so that no one can shut down any media in the future,” he added.

Maruf said the dark chapter for the country’s journalism in the recent past started from the 1/11 political changeover.

“In the last 15 years, it became more terrible. The instance of such partisan journalism was not seen in any parts of the world.

We want to come out of this dark chapter and work towards creating a healthy environment for journalism,” he said.

Maruf said it is matter of hope that yesterday the Chief Adviser in his speech spoke about formulation of a commission for media reform.

Ehsan Mahmud said the fascist Awami League government compelled veteran elderly journalist Shafiq Rehman to leave the country implicating him in false case.