The Editors’ Council on Sunday expressed concern over recent incidents of arrest, missing and oppression of journalists in the country.
The council president Mahfuz Anam and general secretary Naem Nizam expressed the concern in a statement on behalf of the organisation.
‘We, with deep concern, have been noticing that news of arresting and oppressing journalists at places in the country are being published for past few days,’ the statement read.
‘Bangla Tribune’s Kurigram correspondent Ariful Islam was arrested at midnight and sent to jail after getting sentenced to one-year imprisonment. This is not only condemnable but also a matter of sorrow and torment,’ it read.
‘The Editors’ Council is surprised at the incident of arresting journalist at midnight by a mobile court and jailing, fining and torturing him. We demand withdrawal of the case against Ariful. We demand not only withdrawal of Kurigram deputy commissioner but also departmental proceedings against her,’ the statement read.
‘At the same time,’ it read, ‘the Editors’ Council is anxious at the incident of missing of a Dhaka journalist Shafiqul Islam Kajal. We hope that Kajal will be found out and be handed over to his family.’
‘The Editors’ Council is condemning the incident of attacking Bangladesh Protidin Meherpur correspondent Mahabubul Huq Polen and vandalising his house,’ the statement read.
