The Anti-Repression Journalists Front staged a human chain programme demanding the restoration of membership at the National Press Club, withdrawal of what they described as false cases filed against nearly 300 journalists, and the release of detained journalists.
The programme was held in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka at around 9:30am on Friday.
Speakers at the human chain alleged that the memberships of around 200 permanent members of the National Press Club had been suspended through a conspiracy by hanging notices in violation of the organisation’s constitution.
They claimed there was no constitutional or organisational provision allowing the suspension of permanent memberships.
The speakers also alleged that the concerned journalists were being threatened with false cases, barred from entering the Press Club and subjected to intimidation.
Among those who spoke at the programme were organisation Convener Akhtar Hossain, Member Secretary Sheikh Jalal, Zakir Hossain Emon, Ashraf Ali, Sajeda Haque, Soheli Parveen and Tushar, among other leaders.
The speakers said an unelected committee could not carry out such activities during the tenure of a democratic government. They alleged that the government’s name was being used to suppress journalists and control the media.
They also demanded speedy trials of those involved in creating chaos in the media sector, arson attacks on media houses, and the harassment and torture of journalists during the Yunus government’s tenure.
The human chain called for ensuring professional safety for journalists, maintaining an environment for independent journalism, and guaranteeing unrestricted access for journalists to the National Press Club.
Participants warned of larger protest programmes if all “false cases” filed against journalists were not withdrawn and harassment was not stopped. The speakers also expressed anger over the locking of the Dhaka Union of Journalists office allegedly by a terrorist group.
They said the journalists’ union office had remained closed for nearly one and a half years, effectively halting the organisational activities of more than 3,000 journalists.
They said no democratic government could support such actions and alleged that attempts had been made to suppress the media in the name of ensuring press freedom.
The speakers also demanded the immediate reopening of the journalists’ union office.
