The Editors’ Council has expressed deep concern and strong protest over the arrest and imprisonment of Rezanur Islam, editor of Dainik Agrajatra, in a case filed by State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the council said the incident is completely contradictory to the government’s commitments on press freedom and freedom of expression.
The council noted that if any individual or organisation is aggrieved by a news report, they have legal and institutional means to seek remedy – including filing complaints with the Press Council or pursuing cases under existing laws.
However, in this incident, a journalist has been arrested and imprisoned in a case filed by another journalist. “In the past too, during the Awami League government’s tenure, we witnessed such incidents of filing cases, arrests, and harassment of journalists centering on news publication. The current incident shows that same worrying trend repeating,” the statement said.
The council warned that filing criminal cases, arrests, and imprisonment of journalists over news publication are deeply concerning for free journalism and freedom of expression.
“This incident will have a chilling effect on press freedom,” it said, adding that on the occasion of the recent 152nd anniversary of World Press Freedom Day, this incident further tarnishes Bangladesh’s image internationally.
The Editors’ Council demanded the immediate release of Rezanur Islam and called for ensuring proper use of the existing legal and institutional framework, particularly through the Press Council, for resolving complaints against journalists instead of resorting to arrest and imprisonment.
The statement was signed by Editors’ Council President Nurul Kabir and Secretary General Dewan Hanif Mahmud.
