Noab worried at CUJ protest around editor’s house in Ctg

Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh (Noab) has expressed deep concern over Chattogram Journalists' Union staging protests surrounding the residence of Dainik Azadi editor.

On July 29, 2020, Chattogram Journalists' Union [CUJ] surrounded the house of editor MA Malek at Ghat Farhadbagh with some demands,  Noab said in a statement, circulated to the media yesterday.

Publication of five newspaper in Chattogram has remained halted since that day. The publication has not resumed even after Eid, the statement said.

"Occupying the streets outside the editor's residence, instead of protesting at the Press Club, or at the newspaper's office is unprecedented. The residence also houses women, children, and patients," said the statement, issue by Noab President AK Azad. It called the incident disappointing and unfortunate.

Noab stated that newspapers across the country have fallen on economic hardship as a result of the ongoing pandemic. "Crores upon crores of taka are owed to these newspapers for advertisements by the different departments of the government and corporate entities. The income of newspapers has fallen, so did the circulation," said the statement.

The association stated that while many sectors have received stimulus packages, the national budget did not meet the five-point demand from the Noab, including reducing the illogical VAT imposed on newsprint.

Noab also expressed hope that the current stalemate of the Chattogram newspapers would soon be solved.