Sylhet Bureau

A massive human chain held at the historic Sylhet court point (martyred journalist Turab Chatter) on Thursday demanded the opening of Amar Desh Patrika and payment of compensation, withdrawal of the case filed against Editor Mahmudur Rahman and arrest of the killers of journalist ATM Turab who was shot dead by the police in Sylhet.

Former President of Sylhet Press Club and editor of Daily Jalalabad newspaper Muktabis Un Noor attend the human chain as a chief guest.

He said this speech, Amar Desh is the most popular newspaper in Bangladesh and its editor Mahmudur Rahman is an honest oppressed journalist of the country. He never bowed down to injustice.

It is regrettable that even after 15 days of taking charge of the interim government, the ban on the publication of my country and the editor's case have not been withdrawn. We hope that the current government will take effective initiatives in this regard at the earliest.

The magazine should be given an opportunity to be handed over to the reader with necessary compensation. Besides, the murderers of the journalist ATM Turab, who was shot by the police on the ground of Sylhet, should be arrested as soon as possible and exemplary punishment should be ensured. To build a prosperous country, the government should take effective measures against the murderers, corruptors and looters of the students.

Apart from journalists from different print, electronic and online media of Sylhet, a large number of people from different political and social arenas participated in the human chain which was held despite the hostile weather.

President of Aram Desh Pathakmela Sylhet Dr Hossain Ahmed presided over and secretary MJH Jamil conducted the human chain.
former joint convener of Sylhet BNP Rezaul Hasan Kois Ludi, former general secretary of Shahjalal Science and Technology University Teachers' Association spoke and attended. Mozammel Haque, Sylhet Press Club Senior Vice President Khaled Ahmad, General Secretary Sirajul Islam, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis Sylhet Metropolitan General Secretary Alhaj¦ Maulana Emran Alam, Sylhet District BNP Former Vice President and Goainghat Upazila Chairman Abdul Hakim Chowdhury, Daily Prabhat Belar Editor Kabir Ahmad Sohail, professor of Shahjalal University. Khalidur Rahman, Senior Journalist Badruddoza Badar, Bangladesh Workers Welfare Federation Sylhet District South President Fakhrul Islam Khan, Bangladesh Majlisul Mufassirin Central Assistant General Secretary Maulana Mahmudur Rahman Dilawar, District Voluntary Party Convenor Abdul Ahad Khan Jamal, Metropolitan Volunteer Party Convener Mahbubul Haque Chowdhury (VP Mahbub), Sylhet Online Press Club Vice President Abdul Muhit Didar, Goainghat Upazila BNP General Secretary Jasim Uddin, Asian TV Staff Reporter Shahjahan Salim Bulbul, Volunteer Dal Leader Abdul Hasim Zakaria, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir Sylhet Metropolitan Secretary Shaheen Ahmad, Bangladesh Photojournalist Association Sylhet Divisional General Secretary Nurul Islam, Former Joint Editor of Sylhet Online Press Club Tawhidul Islam, Joint General Secretary of MC College Reporters Unity Rajib Hossain, President of Sunamganj Youth Forum Sylhet Abdul Awal Misbah, Journalist Saifur Rahman Talukdar, Sadikur Rahman Chowdhury, Photojournalist HM Shahidul Islam, Joynal Abedin Azad, Khaled Hossain Mithu, Rubel Ahmed, Pathakmela members Nasir Uddin and Jasim Uddin attended the human chain.

The human chain was organized by Amar Desh Pathak Mela Sylhet. Ruhul Amin recited the Quran at the beginning of the human chain. The speakers said that the fascist Hasina government did not stop at destroying all the structures of the state to establish a one-party monopoly in the country. It has set a terrible precedent for suppressing the voice of the media.

A popular brave media like my country has been shut down and oppressed the editor Mahmudur Rahman with unbearable oppression. In the end, Hasina's government was forced to flee due to the mass uprising of the students. But my country is still carrying the wounds of government oppression. The interim government currently running the country should publish Amar Desh at the earliest, withdraw all cases filed against the editor and provide necessary compensation. The killers of journalist ATM Turab, who was shot by the police in Sylhet, must be quickly arrested and brought to justice. Otherwise the people of Sylhet will be forced to come down to the streets.