Human chain held to protest the false case and threats against the publisher and advisory editor of 'Daily Chattogram Pratidin'

Human rights organization 'Bangladesh Human Rights and Press Society' organised a human chain at the National Press Club for threats, false cases and false propaganda against the country's leading newspaper 'Chattogram Pratidin's publisher and advisory editor Ayan Sharma.

'Bangladesh Human Rights and Press Society' and journalist leaders have expressed deep concern over the false case and threat given by PHP Group MD Iqbal Hossain to the publisher and advisory editor of 'Daily Chattogram Pratidin' Ayan Sharma.

In the human chain program held this morning at the National Press Club, the speakers strongly condemned the incident and demanded that the culprits be brought under the law and arrested.

Anwar Hossain Akash; chairman of 'Bangladesh Human Rights and Press Society' and the editor and publisher of 'Daily Swadhin Sangbad' presided the human chain while this programme was moderated by Sarkar Jamal, editor and publisher of 'Pratidin Khobor'.

The Editor and Publisher of 'Doinik Rupbani' Farooq Ahmed, former General Secretary of Dhaka Journalist Union (DUJ) Jahangir Alam Pradhan, Publicity Editor Khandaker Alamgir Hossain, senior journalist Moshiur Rahman Rubel, 'Daily Sabuj Bangladesh' Editor Mohammad Masud, 'Notun Khobor' Editor Akash Moni, DUJ member Abdullah Majumdar, senior journalist Mahfuz Zahid, daily 'Shadheen Shongbad' and 'Asian television's crime reporter Md Rajib Talukder, Shafiqul Islam; Executive Member of the Central Committee of the National Journalist Association, 'Daily Swadhin Sangbad's staff reporter Islam Uddin Talukder and Mohammad Waheed spoke at the human chain.

Chairman of 'Bangladesh Human Rights and Press Society' and Editor and Publisher of 'Daily Swadhin Sangbad' Anwar Hossain said, "not only threats or propaganda; PHP Group director Amir Hossain has filed two defamation cases and a compensation case of Tk. 100 crore against the 'Daily Chattogram Pratidin's Editor Hossain Toufiq Iftekhar and Publisher Ayan Sharma, which is a gross violation of the freedom of the media and human rights.

He also said that the language in which PHP MD Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury threatened the advisory editor and publisher of 'Daily Chattogram Pratidin' Ayaan Sharma in the audio clip that went viral on social media is very sad and disgusting. Threats of such disgraceful language by the owner of a reputed industry group like PHP are completely illogical. The threat of beating up the owner of the newspaper means that no common man is safe from them.

Journalist leaders in the human chain said that false cases and threats against journalists while performing their professional duties have caused deep concern among journalists. Journalists work for society, country and nation. If they are subjected to false cases or threats while performing their duties, it is undoubtedly a threat to freedom of speech.

To ensure the safety of journalists, they demanded strict punishment of those involved and guilty under the law.

At this time, journalist leaders also said that attacks, threats and false cases against journalists while performing their professional duties cannot be accepted in any way. Due to lack of fair trial, such incidents are repeated many times. While Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government is determined to protect the freedom of the media and freedom of speech, the attempt by some businessmen to threaten and harassing journalists is nothing but a conspiracy to tarnish the image of a democratic government.

The journalist leaders demanded the PHP group to refrain from publishing false news and filing false cases against the advisory editor and publisher of 'Daily Chattogram Pratidin' and withdraw the filed cases immediately. Otherwise, the journalist community will be forced to take to the streets.