Journalists are falling victims everyday, as the Government does not tolerate opposing views. Journalists are being tortured for their writings on corruption and the manner of its governance, said participants at a rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club yesterday.
Bangladesh Chhatra League's Rajshahi University unit expelled nine of its members on Saturday for an assault on journalists at the troubled campus earlier in the week. Eight journalists, a teacher of the university, Prof Mustak Ahmed, and an assistant proctor were injured in the attack on Thursday.
Bangladesh Chhatra League activists of Rajshahi University unit beat up at least eight local journalists on the campus on Thursday. Witnesses said the journalists came under attack as they tried to protect a photographer who was being manhandled by about 15 BCL activists. The photographer, Azhar Uddin of daily Ptrothom Alo, apparently earned the wrath of the BCL actvists as he was taking pictures of them beating up two Shibir activists Sohel and Zillur in front of the university's central library at around 10.45 am.
A parliamentary watchdog has returned a bill, aimed at stopping harassment of journalists for writing defamatory pieces, to the law ministry for further clarification. The parliamentary standing committee on Law Ministry at a meeting Sunday night sought clarification from the ministry on the bill to revoke warrant orders against journalists and writers.
Information minister Abul Kalam Azad has urged the media to play a responsible role to ensure government accountability. "We should establish a strong media to ensure accountability of the government," he said inaugurating the council of ruling Awami League-backed Dhaka Union of Journalists on Saturday.
A parliamentary watchdog on Wednesday recommended a new law prescribing punishment for publication of news "without accurate information". Another parliamentary committee questioned the government move of amending the criminal law to stop harassment of journalists.
A governing party MP has suggested that the government formulate a 'guideline' for journalists to "tell the truth instead of writing wrong stories". Elias Uddin Mollah, however, thanked Bangla newspaper Janakantha for writing true stories on cattle market ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha in November last year.
Law minister Shafique Ahmed on Monday tabled an amendment bill in parliament aimed at curtailing court's power to order arrests of journalists for "defamatory" news. The new bill will amend Schedule 2 of the Criminal Procedure Code-1898 by replacing the "warrant" with "summons".
Senior journalists at a programme on Tuesday called on the government to stop repression on and persecution of journalists. Addressing the launch of the South Asia Media Monitor 2009 by the Media Commission Bangladesh in the programme at the National Press Club, they expressed their concerns at the impunity the killers of journalists were getting.
Journalists at a discussion meeting on the Right to Information Act yesterday stressed the need for change in the mindset of bureaucrats for smooth implementation of the act. Addressing a views exchange meeting organised by the Information Commission, they also recommended strengthening the Information Commission with proper logistics as well as financial support so that it could ensure the smooth implementation of the RTI.
