Dhaka: The Editors' Council on Wednesday urged the government to withdraw false and harassing cases filed against journalists. In a statement, the council said that since August 5, 2024, many journalists have been falsely accused in murder and other cases. Some journalists are still in jail, while others are being forced to appear in court regularly.
According to United News of Bangladesh, these cases are seriously obstructing journalists' professional work and harming the independent environment of the media. The Editors' Council voiced concerns over a new clause in the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance, stating that if there are specific and evidence-based allegations against any journalist, those should be dealt with under existing laws through a transparent judicial process.
The council emphasized that in the interest of justice, proper investigation and due legal process must be ensured. It stated that harassment and motivated cases are not acceptable under any circumstances. The council mentioned that it had repeatedly requested the interim government to withdraw the false and motivated cases and to take effective steps to stop the harassment of journalists.
The interim government assured the council that the cases would be reviewed and steps would be taken to withdraw false and harassing cases, but the expected progress has not been seen in this matter. The council strongly urged the newly elected government to treat the issue as a priority and to take swift steps to withdraw the cases filed against journalists. It reiterated that ensuring media freedom and professional safety is a fundamental commitment of a democratic state and expressed hope that the government would act accordingly.