A human chain was held in Rajshahi on Tuesday demanding speedy justice for journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, withdrawal of harassment cases against journalists, and an end to threats and attacks on media professionals.
The Rajshahi Press Club organised the programme at Shaheb Bazar Zero Point in the city around 11:30am.
The human chain was chaired by Abdus Sabur, vice-president of the Rajshahi Press Club and Rajshahi bureau chief of Dainik Dinkal.
Among others, Rajshahi City Corporation Administrator Mahfuzur Rahman Riton; Khairul Alam Rafiq, chairman of the Journalist Torture Prevention Cell Bangladesh and editor of Dainik Protidiner Kagoj; Rajshahi Press Club General Secretary Golam Mostofa Mamun; Mahfuzul Hasnain Hikol, member secretary of the Rajshahi Rokkha-Songrokkhon Committee; freedom fighter Shajahan Ali Borjahan; ATN Bangla senior journalist Suzauddin Choton; Abdul Mugni Niro, president of Rajshahi Reporters Unity; Faisal Azam Opu, general secretary of the Rajshahi divisional committee of Jatiya Sangbadik Sangstha; Rafiqul Islam Roki, member secretary of Rajshahi Metropolitan Jubo Dal; Samad Khan, president of Rajshahi Photojournalists Association; its former president Shariful Islam Tota; Mostafiz Rocky, general secretary of Rajshahi Television Journalists Association; Rajib Khan, president of Mohanpur Upazila Oikya Press Club; Sagar Nomani, central member of Bangladesh Trinomul Press Society; and Md Shahin Sagor, general secretary of Mohanpur Model Press Club and Rajshahi bureau chief of Daily Industry, spoke at the programme.
The speakers said filing cases, issuing threats and harassing journalists over published reports posed a serious threat to press freedom. They demanded that journalists' safety be ensured and harassment cases filed over news reports be withdrawn.
They also demanded speedy justice in the long-pending murder case of Sagar and Runi. They called for those responsible for the killing, enforced disappearances, attacks and torture of journalists to be brought to justice. The participants also demanded the release of My TV Chairman Nasir Uddin Sathi.
Rajshahi City Corporation Administrator Mahfuzur Rahman Riton said an environment must be ensured where journalists can perform their professional duties independently. He called for an end to harassment of journalists, withdrawal of harassment cases and speedy completion of the trial in the Sagar-Runi murder case. He also expressed his support for journalists working in Rajshahi.
Golam Mostofa Mamun, general secretary of Rajshahi Press Club, said the alleged killers and conspirators involved in the Sagar-Runi murder should be arrested immediately and tried through a special tribunal.
He also demanded proper investigation into the cases of journalists who have been killed or disappeared over the past 20 years and called for those responsible to be brought to justice.
He said those involved in threats, attacks and harassment of journalists across the country should be arrested and brought under the law. Filing cases against journalists to harass them over news reports must be stopped, he added.
The speakers also raised allegations of threats and legal harassment against journalists in several recent incidents in Rajshahi.
They said Shahinur Rahman Sona, Rajshahi bureau chief of Dainik Sokaler Shomoy, allegedly received death threats after publishing an investigative report. They demanded the immediate arrest of the person responsible for issuing the threat.
They also alleged that so-called journalist Nazrul Islam Julu publicly threatened to kill journalists while being taken to jail after being arrested by Boalia Model Police Station. Seven journalists subsequently filed general diaries with the police over the incident, the speakers said.
The speakers further alleged that an attempt had been made to take over the Rajshahi Press Club after August 5. They demanded investigation and legal action against Nazrul Islam Julu and others who have allegedly been involved in criminal activities under the guise of journalism.
The issue of cases filed against journalists following reports concerning alleged misconduct by the superintendent of a madrasa in Mohanpur was also raised at the human chain.
The speakers said cases had been filed in court against several journalists, including Mazharul Islam Chapol, Rajshahi bureau chief of national daily Gonamukti; Md Shahin Sagor, Rajshahi bureau chief of national daily Daily Industry; and Rajib Khan, Rajshahi bureau chief of Dainik Choukos.
They claimed that the case had been filed with the intention of harassing the journalists and demanded its withdrawal following an impartial investigation and verification of the allegations.
The speakers also said a seven-day deadline had been given to the Mohanpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer, officer-in-charge of Mohanpur Police Station, Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police to take action regarding the matter.
They also protested against what they described as false allegations and cases filed against the general secretary of Pabna Press Club.
Among those present at the human chain were Rajshahi Press Club vice-presidents Sarker Shariful Islam and Shahriar Ontu; Azibar Rahman, editor and publisher of Rajshahir Alo; joint general secretary Nure Islam Milon; office secretary Mozammel Babu; library secretary Suruj Ali; executive member and editor of Prokashkal Rajib Ali Ratul; members Rauf Uddin Rafi, Rubel Sarker and Sani; and senior journalists Mamun Reza, Obaidul Islam Rabi, Abul Kalam Azad, Faruk Hossain and Liaquat Hossain.
Representatives of the Journalist Torture Prevention Cell Bangladesh, Rajshahi Photojournalists Association, Rajshahi Model Press Club, Rajshahi divisional committee of Jatiya Sangbadik Sangstha, Rajshahi Television Journalists Association, Online Journalists Forum, Mohanpur Press Club, Mohanpur Model Press Club, Bangladesh Trinomul Press Society, Mohanpur Upazila Oikya Press Club, Durgapur Press Club and Durgapur Swachchha Press Club, among others, attended the programme.
The participants called for ensuring a safe environment for journalists to perform their professional duties, ending attacks, threats and harassment against journalists, withdrawing harassment cases, and ensuring speedy justice in the Sagar-Runi murder case and all other cases involving the killing of journalists.
