Withdraw cases against Star editor

Journalists and human rights activists formed a human chain in the district town yesterday demanding withdrawal of all the cases filed against the Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam.

Local journalists and district unit of Human Rights Defenders Forum (HRDF) of Ain O Salish Kendra jointly organised the programme at Mission Intersection in Lalmonirhat town.

A total of 79 cases including 17 pleading to bring charges of treason have been filed against Mahfuz Anam in 53 districts between February 9 and 22.      

The barrage of cases began days after the Star editor at a talk show on February 3 made an introspective comment about a lapse in his editorial judgement in publishing some reports, based on information given by the Task Force Interrogation Cell during the 2007-08 caretaker government's tenure, without being able to verify those independently.

The filing of cases has drawn condemnation from local and international journalists and journalist unions and human rights bodies.

In the human chain, journalists and human rights activists said some leaders and activists of the ruling party and its front organisations filed these cases to harass the editor, even not knowing the real facts.

They said the government should take necessary steps to withdraw all cases against Mahfuz Anam to establish true press freedom.

Journalists Gokul Roy (Ekushey TV and Dainik Sangbad), Abdur Rob Suzon (Prothom Alo and ABC Radio), Ahmedur Rahman Mukul (Dipto TV), Abu Hasnath Rana (Daily Independent), Hasan Ul Aziz (RTV), S Dilip Roy (The Daily Star), Touhidul Islam Liton (Boishakhi TV and Jai Jai Din), Moazzem Hossain (Daily Banik Barta and Dhaka Tribune), Mahfuz Sazu (MY TV  and Daily Observer), Uttam Roy (Ekattor TV), Khorshed Alam Sagar (Bangla News24), Sultan Ahmed (Daily Ittefaq), Farhad Alam Sumon (Dainik Samakal), Maniruzzaman Manir (Dainik Uttarkon), Rafiqul Haque and Shahed Ahmed of HRDF, among other, jointed the programme.