Editors’ Council demands release of local editor held over news on state minister

The Editors’ Council has expressed deep concern and strong protest over the arrest and imprisonment of Md Rezaul Islam, acting editor of Dainik Agragatra Pratidin, in connection with a case filed over a report published about State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam in Bogura.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the council said the incident was inconsistent with commitments to media freedom and freedom of expression outlined in the ruling BNP’s election manifesto and its 31-point state reform programme.

The council said that anyone aggrieved by a news report, regardless of their position in the state, has legal and institutional avenues for seeking redress.

Such individuals may file complaints with the Press Council, which is legally mandated to examine and settle complaints of this nature, or seek legal remedy through existing laws.

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However, the council noted that in this case, one journalist filed a case that led to the arrest and imprisonment of another journalist. It said similar practices of filing cases, arresting and harassing journalists over published reports had been seen during the previous Awami League government, and warned that the latest incident reflected a return to that troubling trend.

The Editors’ Council said the use of criminal cases, arrests and imprisonment against journalists over news reports poses a serious threat to independent journalism and freedom of expression. It added that such actions could negatively affect the independence of newspapers and media workers.

Referring to Bangladesh’s current ranking of 152nd in the World Press Freedom Index, the council said such incidents could further undermine media freedom in the country and damage Bangladesh’s image internationally.

The council demanded the immediate release of Rezaul and called for disputes involving journalists to be addressed through existing legal and institutional mechanisms, particularly the Press Council, instead of through arrests and criminal cases.

The statement was signed on behalf of the Editors’ Council by its President Nurul Kabir and General Secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud.