State of press freedom in Bangladesh in 2008

by Zahid Al Amin, February 25, 2009


A total of 33 journalists were assaulted or harassed in a total of 18 incidents across the country from January to March 2008. During the period nine newsmen received death threat in five different incidents while another one was given threat of physical assault while discharging his professional duties. Four journalists were physically assaulted in three incidents. Five cases were filed against 13 journalists while four were arrested in three cases. Police also harassed two journalists in another incident.
January:
Sixteen journalists were harassed in six different incidents in January. On January 2, the High Court stayed the rule of extortion of the case filed against Jahangir Alam Akash, Rajshahi Bureau Chief of the Daily Sangbad under Emergency Act. The court also asked the government why the appeal of including the case under Emergency Act will not illegal. It is noted that Jahangir Alam Akash was arrested on 24 October 2007 by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from Rajshahi.
On January 11, unidentified miscreants attacked Sohel Sani, a Special Correspondent of The Bangla Bazaar Potrika and Executive Member of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU). A group of armed terrorists suddenly attacked him with lethal weapons while he was returning home from works at city's Basabo area.
On January 11, Abdus Salam, a fertilizer trader of Natore has filed a defamation case of Tk 30 millions against five journalists. He filed the case with the Chief Judicial Court of Natore while the reporters published report against the selling of substandard fertilizer.
On January 11, District Administration of Narayanganj has cancelled declaration of seven newspapers. The newspapers are Dainik Sobar Kantha, Bartaman Jele, Dainik Ihokal, Weekly Jeeban Chitra, Weekly Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Shochitra Jana Jibon, Tamasha (Monthly), Lekha Chitra on ground that the newspapers were not being published regularly for a long time.
On January 15, a team of Joint Forces arrested two journalists of Bandorban on charge of extortion. The arrested journalists are Sadek Hossian Chowdhury of Suprovat Bangladesh H M Samrat of Channel One. Two other journalists were Kobir Hossain Siddiki, Bandarban correspondent of Channel-i and daily Sangbad and Alauffin Shahriar of RTV and daily Amader Shomoy who remained absconding. A false case was filed while the journalists published reports and pictures of gambling and nude dance. On January 15, discussants at a meeting said that the trial of the eminent journalist Manik Saha, who was murdered, could not be completed due to the negligence and reluctance of the BNP-Jamaat government and administration.
On January 21, Shawpan Mirza, Sirajganj District Correspondent of Ekushey Television and Moktar Hossain of The Daily Destiny received death threat through mobile phone. On January 25, the military-backed caretaker government asked the private television channels to avoid telecasting all kinds of live talk shows. The officials, however, said they did not impose any ban on the broadcasting live shows. Earlier, on January 10, Ekushey Television authorities received a fax message from the administration directing to cancel its schedule live programs - Ekushey Shomoy and Ekushey Raat. The fax message did not carry any phone number or signature of the sender. On January 28, a defamation case was filed against the Editor Moinul Ahsan Saber, publisher Mahfuj Anam, Chief Reporter Badrul Anam Nabil and reporter Masud Kamal of the Weekly 2000.
February:
Ten journalists were harassed/repressed in five incidents in March. On February 01, The Ekhushey Television (ETV), a private television channel resumed broadcasting its popular program Ekushey Shomoy and Ekushey Raat. The authorities concerned had imposed ban on these program on January 25. The government gave permission to resume broadcast with some terms and condition.
On February 2, a convicted terrorist attack the journalists in court premises of C'Nawabganj. According to eyewitnesses, after the court verdict of life sentence, an active member of Jamaatul Mujahedin Bangladesh (JMB) Tufan attack Zahid Hasan, a correspondent of private television channel Bangla Vishion despite huge police presence. On February 7, a court granted bail to Jahangir Alam Akash, General Secretary of Rajshahi Journalist Union and Rajshahi correspondent of daily Sangbad for three months. A bench comprising justice Nazmun Ara Sultana and justice Md. Ashraful Islam granted the bail when he submitted the bail prayer to the court. On February 8, the court approved the bail of Sayed Borhan Kabir. One Belal Hossain filed a case with Dhaka Metropolitan Court on charge of bank check forgery of taka two lakhs on November 28, 2007. Following the hearing of the case, the court sentenced Borhan Kabir for one-year imprisonment and also fined taka three lakhs. Police arrested him on February 8, as a convicted person.
On February 8, police arrested journalist Sayed Borhan Kabir on charge of a check forgery case and sent him to jail. One Belal Hossain filed a forgery case of Taka two lakh with Dhaka Metropolitan Court on November 28, 2007. After the trial, the court sentenced Borhan Kabir to one-year imprisonment and also fined Taka three lakh. On February 13, a case was filed against AM Kamal Hossain, Correspondent of The Daily Amar Desh and former President of Kapashia, Gazipur. One Morshed Molla, Union Parishad member of Karihata UP filed the case on charge of extortion with Kapasia police station. Kamal Hosssian said that Morshed Mollah filed the false case while he wrote a report against his corruption. On February 13, Khulna Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal acquitted all the seven accused including the chief of the outlawed Janajuddha Party Abdur Rashid alias Dada Tapan in the journalist Humayun Kabir Balu murder case of Khulna police station. On February 16, Miscreants threatened Shwadhan Bikash Chakma, Baghai Chhari correspondent of the Daily Prothom Alo for life. On 25 February, A court ordered the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) authorities to conduct further investigation into the case filed in connection with attacking journalist Zahid Al Amin. The court also ordered the CMP authorities to complete the investigation by an Inspector of Detective Branch within March 27. On February 26, the caretaker administration formed the seventh Wage Board with retired High Court judge Habibur Rahman Khan as chairman for journalists and press employees. On February 26, Police Super of Tangail District assaulted Jahangir Hossain and Sohel Mohshin Shipon while they were taking snaps of torturing on a track driver in the toen. The Police Super Abdul Mannan himself also took away the camera of the journalists and threatened to though them into lock up. On February 28, A journalist of a weekly Shhersha Kagoj, who faces contempt of court charge along with his entire office staff including its Editor and also peon was directed to disclose the sources of the news headlined "A Judge too whitened black money" carried by the periodical.
March:
Ten journalists were harassed and assaulted in five different incidents in March. Six journalists received death threat in three incidents while one was arrested in another case. A case was filed against another journalist during the month. Police harassed two newsmen in another incident. On March 2, miscreants threatened to kill Abu Jafar Shabu, Gaibanda Correspondent of Daily Janakantha, Shahabul Shahin Tota of Prothom Alo, Syed Nurul Alam Jahangir of Daliy Karotoya and Hedayetul Islam Babu of Shishu Prokash for publishing report of corruption. Mosaddek-Sadekul group, allegedly a terrorist gang of Sadar upazila of Gaibanda gave the threat when the journalists published a news item on land grabbing of a female farmer of village Bhapara of the district. On 02 March, former chairman of Technical Education Board M Idris Ali apologized to journalists for assaulting two reporters and confining them to the board office at Agargaon in Dhaka on May 14, 2007. 'I am so sorry for assaulting two journalists — Mostaq Ahmed of Janakantha and Siddiqur Rahman Khan of New Age. I offer an apology,' Idris Ali said in the presence of some senior journalists at the Dhaka Reporters Unity where he went to offer an apology. Idirs Ali reportedly invited Mostaq to his office on May 14 to discuss a report on corruption published on the day against him. When Mostaq and Siddik went there, a group of miscreants attacked them. The government on May 16, 2007 removed Idris Ali on charge of assaulting the reporters. He also requested the journalists to withdraw the case filed against him. On 4 March, the chief adviser has approved Right to Information Ordinance, 2008. Once the Act is in force, all organizations registered under the law of the land will be bound to provide citizens with information on matters of public interest. Under the Act, the aggrieved individuals can first appeal with heads of the organizations and, if not satisfied, can go to the proposed information commission that will be based in the capital for not getting information or for being supplied with incorrect information. Anyone found guilty of refusing to provide information or of giving misinformation can be awarded imprisonment up to three months and fined Tk 25,000. On March 5, police arrested Abdul Awal Rubel, Chandpur correspondent of RTV and the daily Amader Shomoy on charge of extortion. Investigation Officer of the case, Sub-Inspector Monir said that Rubel and Manowar Kanon, district correspondent of the daily Manab Jameen demanded Taka 50 thousand to Jafar Iqbal Munna, a construction contractor of Chandpur. Police arrested the newsman Rubel when the construction contractor Munna informed the nearby police station in this regard. Another case was also filed against Manab Jameen reporter Manowar Kanon in same incident. On March 12, Mohammad Gias Uddin, President of Goura Nodi Press Club and local Correspondent of daily Samakal was given death threat for publishing a report on corruption. Sarkar Alam, a meter reader of Titas Gas Limited has given the threat to journalist Gias Uddin while he published a report on corruption in daily Samakal. In the report, the alleged that Sakar Alam's name was mentioned as the mastermind of demolishing an ancient building which was used by the freedom fighters during liberation war in 1971. On 16 March, 2008, the Government has announced the Community Radio Installation, Broadcast and Operation Policy 2008. The Ministry of Information of the People's Republic of Bangladesh invited applications for installation of Community Radio from the interested organizations. The handout said the communality radio installation, broadcast and operation policy 2008 was posted on the information ministry web site (www.moi.gov.bd) for the people interested in community radio licence. The submission of application is open until 15th April 2008.
On March 18, the Additional Chief Judicial Megistrate of Chandpur Md. Shelim Mian approved bail petition of Abdul Awal Rubel, Chandpur correspondent of RTV and the daily Amader Shomoy who was arrested on charge of extortion on March 5. The court also granted bail of another accused Manowar Kanon, district correspondent of the daily Manab Jameen while he surrendered before the court in the same case. On 20 March, a Dhaka court discharged former Prothom Alo cartoonist Arifur Rahman in connection with a case filed against him for a cartoon "hurting religious sentiments" published in the daily's satirical magazine "Aalpin" on September 17 last year. On September 20, OC Jane Alam filed the case against Arif with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court.
On 24 March, EZM Asaduzzaman Tipu, local correspondent of The Daily Star, after being informed of widespread cheating in the homeopathic examination, went to the examination venue at Kalibari intersection. The on-duty magistrates Rashidul Mannaf Kabir and Ashraf Hossen instantly ordered police to arrest him. Meanwhile police also arrested ATN Bangla reporter Ratan Sarker in the same indecent. After a few hours, police released the newsmen while all the journalists staged sit-in in front of DC office. On March 27, a court of Barishal has given bail to Md. Gias Uddin, Gouranadi Correspondent of daily Samakal and Abdul Matin, Editor of daily Dakkhinanchal. They were accused of a defamation case of Taka 70 lakh filed by a sacked schoolteacher Sardar Alauddin. On March 29, miscreants threatened to kill Mahbubur Rahman, Satkhira Correspondent of daily Sangbad. ABM Mostakim, a listed terrorist of Satkhira police threatened the newsman to kill following a report of his arrest by the joint force.
Death Threat/Threat:
On January 21, Shawpan Mirza, Sirajganj District Correspondent of Ekushey Television and Moktar Hossain of The Daily Destiny received death threat through mobile phone. The journalists informed that a controversial leader of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of Sirajganj district gave the threat saying that the journalist informed the law enforcers about his illegal business.
On February 11, unidentified miscreants threatened Enamul Hoque, Rajapur Correspondent of Dainik Noya Diganta to kill from cell phone. The journalist said that miscreants have threatened him for making report on corruption. A General Diary (GD) was lodged with the concerned police station in this connection on February 14.
On February 16, Miscreants threatened Shwadhan Bikash Chakma, Baghai Chhari correspondent of the Daily Prothom Alo for life. Some miscreants led by Nanta Talukdaer, Assistant Teacher of Shialday Govt Private School asked the journalist, why he write against their irregularities in the newspaper. The warned the nesman to stop writing agaisnt them, otherwise he will be killed.
On March 2, miscreants threatened to kill Abu Jafar Shabu, Gaibanda Correspondent of Daily Janakantha, Shahabul Shahin Tota of Prothom Alo, Syed Nurul Alam Jahangir of Daliy Karotoya and Hedayetul Islam Babu of Shishu Prokash for publishing report of corruption. Local sources said that Mosaddek-Sadekul group, an identified terrorist group of Sadar upazila of Gaibanda gave the threat while the journalists published a news on land grabbing of a female farmer of village Bhapara of the district. A General Diary (GD) was recorded with the concerned police station in connection with the incident.
On March 12, Mohammad Gias Uddin, President of Goura Nodi Press Club and local Correspondent of the daily Samakal was given death threat for publishing a report on corruption. Sources said that Sarkar Alam, a meter reader of Titas Gas limited has given life threat to the journalist from the cell phone number - 01716398857. It is learnt that a corruption report was published in the daily Samakal where the alleged criminal Sakar Alam's name was mentioned as the mastermind of demolishing the building which was used by the freedom fighter during liberation war in 1971.
On March 29, miscreants threatened Mahbubur Rahman, Satkhira Correspondent of daily Sangbad. ABM Mostakim, a listed terrorist of law enforcing organizations threatened the newsman to kill following a report of his arrest by the joint force.
Attack/Physical Assault:
On January 11, unidentified miscreants attacked Sohel Sani, a Special Correspondent of The Bangla Bazaar Potrika and Executive Member of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU. According to the sources, a group of armed terrorists suddenly attacked him with lethal weapons while he was returning home from works at city's Basabo area. Locals rescued him in a critical condition and admitted to the Pongu Hospital. The cause behind the attack Sani could not be known till the time of filing this report.
On February 2, a convicted terrorist attack the journalists in the court premises of C'Nawabganj. According to the eyewitness, after the court verdict for life, an active member of Jamaatul Mujahedin Bangladesh (JMB) Tufan attack Zahid Hasan, a correspondent of private television channel Bangla Vishion in spite of the police security. The angry JMB man also destroyed the camera of Tufan. Later, the on duty police picked up the terrorist form the scene.
On February 26, Police Super of Tangail District assaulted Jahangir Hossain and Sohel Mohshin Shipon while they were taking snaps of torturing on a track driver in the toen. The Police Super Abdul Mannan himself also took away the camera of the journalists and threatened to though them into lock up.
Case/Arrest:
On January 11, Abdus Salam, a fertilizer trader of Natore filed a defamation case of 30 millions of Taka against five journalists. He filed the case to the Chief Judicial Court of Natore while the reporters published report against the selling of substandard fertilizer. The accused are Rejaul Karim Reza (Jai Jai Din), GM Iqbal Hasan (Janakantha), Ronen Roy (Vorer Kagoj), Aminul Hoque (Jana Desh) and Abdul Mannaf (Jana Desh).
On January 15, a team of Joint Force has arrested two journalists of Bandorban on charge of extortion. The arrested are identified as Sadek Hossian Chowdhury of Suprovat Bangladesh H M Samrat of Channel One. One Mong Chanu Marma filed the case accusing four local journalists of Bandorban as they demanded Taka 10 thousand as extortion to him. The two other journalists were Kobir Hossain Siddiki, Bandarban correspondent of Channel-i and daily Sangbad and Alauffin Shahriar of RTV and daily Amader Shomoy. Presently they are absconding. The false case was filed while the journalists published reports and pictures of gambling and nude dance.
On January 28, a defamation case was filed against the Editor Moinul Ahsan Saber, publisher Mahfuz Anam, Chief Reporter Badrul Anam Nabil and reporter Masud Kamal of the weekly 2000. Asharf Siddiqui, Chairman of Jaitya Party central committee on behalf of former president Hossain Mohammad Ershad. According to the case statement, an autobiography of Bidisha, former wife of Ershad was published in the weekly 2000 where the plaintiff found definable information that leads to file the case. However, the court dismissed the case saying that the victim Ershad didn't file the case.
On February 8, police arrested journalist Sayed Borhan Kabir on charge of a check forgery case and sent him to jail. One Belal Hossain filed a forgery case of Taka two lakh with Dhaka Metropolitan Court on November 28, 2007. After the trial, the court sentenced Borhan Kabir to one-year imprisonment and also fined Taka three lakh.
On February 13, a case was filed against AM Kamal Hossain, Correspondent of The Daily Amar Desh and former President of Kapashia, Gazipur. One Morshed Molla, Union Parishad member of Karihata UP filed the case on charge of extortion with Kapasia police station. Kamal Hosssian said that Morshed Mollah filed the false case while he published a report against his corruption.
On March 5, police arrested Abdul Awal Rubel, Chandpur correspondent of RTV and the Daily Amader Shomoy on charge of extortion. Investigation Officer of the case, Sub-Inspector Monir said that Rubel and Manowar Kanon, district correspondent of the daily Manab Jameen demanded Taka 50 thousand to Jafar Iqbal Munna, a construction contractor of Chandpur. Police arrested the newsman Rubel when the construction contractor Munna inform the nearby police station in this regard. Another case was also filed against Manab Jameen reporter Manowar Kanon in same incident.
Harassment:
On 24 March, Journalists of different electronic and print media staged a sit-in in front of the office of Nilphamari deputy commissioner (DC) protesting alleged harassment by officials during professional work. The officials arrested local correspondents of The Daily Star and ATN Bangla when they went to the examination venue of Nilphamari Homeopathy Medical College to carry out professional duties. Being informed of widespread cheating in the homeopathic examination, EZM Asaduzzaman Tipu, local correspondent of The Daily Star, went to the examination venue at Kalibari intersection will his camera at 11:00am. On-duty magistrates Rashidul Mannaf Kabir and Ashraf Hossen instantly ordered police to arrest him. He was detained in a room of the homeopathic college and police took his camera and mobile set. As ATN Bangla reporter Ratan Sarker went to enquire into the matter, the magistrates ordered police to arrest him too. Magistrate Ashraf Hossen uttered abusing words at the two newsmen and ordered police to take them to police station. Other journalists rushed to the spot and wanted to know from the magistrates the reason of their arrest but the magistrates ignored them. Later police released the journalists at about 11:30am. Local journalists staged sit-in on the DC office premises. They withdrew the sit-in when Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Tajul Islam on behalf of the deputy commissioner assured the journalists of taking departmental procedure.
Follow up:
On January 2, the High Court ordered to stay the rule of extortion case filed against Jahangir Alam Akash, Bureau Chief of Rajshahi, The Daily Sangbad under Emergency Act. The court also asked the government why the appeal of inclusion of the case under Emergency Act will not be declared illegal. It is noted that Jahangir Alam Akash was arrested on 24 October 2007 by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from Rajshahi. He produced a television report that was broadcasted on 3 May 2007 alleging that RAB agents had shot a man at his home in front of his family although he posed no threat. Jahangir Alam Akash was charged with extortion, a charge widely believed to be false and politically motivated. The journalist was released on bail in November 2007 after over a month in detention. He has publicly stated that he has been tortured in detention by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) agents. Akash stated publicly that he was tortured by RAB agents, including with electric shocks, beating on the sole of his foot with a stick, and being hanged from the ceiling with his hands tied. Following his release in late November 2007, the Home Ministry, allegedly at the instigation of the Rajshahi RAB agents, instructed the police to apply to the case the provisions of the Emergency Powers Rules, 2007 (EPR), usually applied to detainees whom the authorities want to prevent from being released on bail allegedly on security grounds.
On January 15, discussants at the reminiscence meeting said that the trial of the eminent journalists of Manik Saha, who was murdered, was not completed due to the negligence and reluctance of the BNP-Jamaat government and administration. In the meeting, held at the Moni Singh- Farhad Memorial Trust to mark the fourth death anniversary of New Age correspondent Manik Saha, the speakers urged the interim government to take necessary steps to bring the killers to book immediately. They also had the BNP-Jamaat government responsible for patronising the killers instead of ensuring punishment to them, which increased the journalists' professional risk. The government failed to investigate the murder as many government officials were linked to those responsible for the murder, said Khusi Kobir of Nijera Kari. He proposed the formation of a civil investigation committee to probe the murder and expedite trial.
On February 01, The Ekhushey Television (ETV), a private television channel has resumed the broadcasting of its popular program Ekushey Shomoy and Ekushey Raat from. The authority concerned of the ruling government had imposed ban on these program on January 25. The government has given the permission with some terms and condition.
On February 7, a court granted bail Jahangir Alam Akash, General Secretary of Rajshahi Journalist Union and Rajshahi correspondent of daily Sangbad for three months. A bench of justice Nazmun Ara Sultana and justice Md. Ashraful Islam granted the bail while he submitted prayer to the court.
On February 8, Court approved the bail of Journalist Sayed Borhan Kabir. One Belal Hossain filed a case with Dhaka Metropolitan Court on charge of bank check forgery of Taka two lakh in November 28, 2007. Following the case, the court sent Borhan Kabir for one-year imprisonment and also fined Taka three lakh. Police arrested him on February 8, as a convicted person.
On February 13, Khulna Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal acquitted all the seven accused including the chief of the outlawed Janajuddha Party Abdur Rashid alias Dada Tapan in the journalist Humayun Kabir Balu murder case of Khulna police station. Humayun Kabir was the owner cum editor of a local daily "Janmobhumi" and the incumbent president of Khulna Press Club at the time of his murder. The victim was bombed to death by the assailants on June 27 in 2004 in broad daylight at the entrance of his newspaper office-cum residence on Islampur road in the city.
On 25 February, A court ordered the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) authorities to conduct further investigation into the case filed in connection with attacking journalist Zahid Al Amin. The court also ordered the CMP authorities to complete the investigation by an Inspector of Detective Branch within March 27. A group of unruly intern doctors and employees of Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) beat Zahid Al Amin, the then staff reporter of the daily Nayadiganta, Chittagong Bureau and now an Assistant Editor of Dhaka based English weekly -- The Our Time, and Research Reporter of The Daily Amader Shomoy, when he went there to discharge professional duties on July 21, 2005. "I'm still getting threat from the attackers to withdraw the case", told Zahid saying that he is not yet safe from the culprits. They had repeatedly been threatening me over cell phone to kill, Zahid told to the newsmen.
On 02 March, Former Technical Education Board chairman M Idris Ali apologized to journalists for assaulting two reporters and confining them to the board office at Agargaon in Dhaka on May 14, 2007. 'I am so sorry for assaulting two journalists — Mostaq Ahmed of Janakantha and Siddiqur Rahman Khan of New Age. I offer an apology,' Idris Ali said in the presence of some senior journalists at the Dhaka Reporters Unity where he went to offer an apology. Idirs Ali reportedly invited Mostaq to his office on May 14 to discuss a report on corruption published on the day against him. Idris also requested the Janakantha news editor to send Mostaq to him. Mostaq along with Siddiqur Rahman Khan, a senior staff correspondent of New Age, went to meet Idris in his office at about 1:30pm on that day. At one point, a group of people led by Shajahan, Mamun, Barek, and Asadul attacked Mostaq and Siddiq for publishing the report. They snatched the identity cards and mobiles of the reporters. Mostaq then lodged an attempt-to-murder case against Idris and Mohammad Shajahan, then secretary of the board, Mamun-Or-Rashid, private secretary to the chairman, Barek, an employee of the board, and Asadul, an Ansars member on duty at the office. The government on May 16, 2007 removed Idris Ali on charge of assaulting the reporters. He requested the journalists to withdraw the case filed against him.
On March 18, The Additional Chief Judicial Megistrate of Chandpur Md. Shelim Mian has approved bail of Abdul Awal Rubel, Chandpur correspondent of Rtv and the daily Amader Shomoy who was arrested on charge of extortion on March 5.
On 20 March, A Dhaka court discharged former Prothom Alo cartoonist Arifur Rahman in connection with a case filed against him for a cartoon "hurting religious sentiments" published in the daily's satire magazine "Aalpin" on September 17 last year. Metropolitan Magistrate Mosammat Ismat Ara passed the order, as the complainant of the case Jane Alam Khan, the then officer-in-charge (OC) of Tejgaon police, did not appear before the court on several consecutive dates. The court had earlier summoned the complainant to appear before the court repeatedly, but he failed to comply with the court order. On September 20 last year, OC Jane Alam filed the case against Arif with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court for committing the offences. Before filing the case, Arif was arrested under Section 54 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) on September 18 and later he was shown arrested in the regular case. He was also given detention order under the special Powers Act 1974 that had earlier made illegal by the High Court (HC) following a writ petition challenging the legality of the detention order by the government. Following that day's order, there remains no bar to his release from the jail.
On 25 March, a Chandpur court approved bail of Manowar Kanon, Chandpur town correspondent of the daily Manabzameen while he surrendered to court. The journalist was accused of an extortion case of Taka 50 thousand. Jafar Iqbal Munna, a construction contractor of Chandpur has filed the case saying that the Kanon and his colleague Rubel demanded the money as extortion.
On March 27, a court of Barishal has granted bail to Md. Gias Uddin, Gouranadi Correspondent of daily Samakal and Abdul Matin, Editor of daily Dakkhinanchal. They were accused of a defamation case of Taka 70 lakh filed by a sacked schoolteacher Sardar Alauddin. After the investigation, police submitted the report to court on August 2007. The Additional Chief Judicial Megistrate of Barishal Khademul Islam has approved the bail as the police ingestion did not find them guilty.
Ban and license cancellation:
On January 11, District Administration of Narayanganj has cancelled declaration of seven newspapers. The newspapers are Dainik Sobar Kantha, Bartaman Jele, Dainik Ihokal, Weekly Jeeban Chitra, Weekly Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Shochitra Jana Jibon, Tamasha (Monthly), Lekha Chitra. The newspapers had not been published regularly for long.
On January 25, the military-backed caretaker government asked the private television channels to avoid tele-casting all kinds of live talk shows. The officials, however, said they did not impose any ban on the tele-casting live shows. Earlier, on January 10, Ekushey Television authorities received a fax message, without mentioning the name and signature of the sender, from the administration to cancel its schedule live popular telecasting live programs - Ekushey Shomoy and Ekushey Raat. Some other private channels also received similar instructions. Following the directions, Ekushey Television authorities cancelled broadcusting of its live talk show Ekushey Shomoy and Ekushey Raat.Authorities imposed a ban on telecast of any sorts of talk show during the August violence last year. A few days later, TV channels got permission to telecast talk shows on nine-point condition. But the channels started to broadcast live talk shows frequently thought the government suggested avoiding live talk shows. Meanwhile, Channe-i stopped audience question portion of its talk show Nirbachito Khobor.
Court verdict/Acquisition:
On February 28, a journalist of a weekly Shhersha Kagoj, who faces contempt of court charge along with his entire office staff including its Editor and also peon was directed to disclose the sources of the news headlined "A Judge too whitened black money" carried by the periodical. The High Court division bench comprising Justice Shah Abu Nayeem Mominur Rahman and Justice Shahidul Islam passed the order when the suo moto rule matter came up for order.
Journalist's Fundamental Right:
On February 26, the caretaker administration on Tuesday formed the seventh Wage Board with retired High Court judge Habibur Rahman Khan as chairman for journalists and press employees. The seventh Wage Board will review its predecessor's awards and announce the revised award following discussions with related parties. The board will submit its recommendations to the caretaker government in two months from now.