Journalists form human chain at SC gate over ban on courtroom access

A group of journalists formed a human chain today at the Supreme Court main gate, protesting the bar on newsmen from entering the courtrooms of the Supreme Court.

The protest programme organised by the Supreme Court Reporters Forum (SRF) started at 12:45pm, which continued till 1:20pm.

Participants wore black cloths over their faces during the demonstration.

At the human chain, they demanded the immediate withdrawal of the authorities’ decision restricting media personnel from entering the Supreme Court courtrooms and called for full access to cover judicial proceedings and publish reports in the media.

Speaking during the protest programme, SRF President Masudur Rahman Rana said journalists’ fundamental rights had been violated as they had not been allowed to enter the courtrooms since January 7 of this year.

He further said that if they were not allowed to enter the courtrooms immediately, they would boycott reporting.

SRF General Secretary Mahidi Hasan Dalim and Executive Member Mazharul Hoque Manna also spoke at the event.