by Maruf ul Alam (Dhaka Bureau)
The Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) organized a human chain protest demanding the withdrawal of false cases filed against its General Secretary, Mynul Hasan Sohel, and Administrative Officer, Solaiman Hossain. The protest also condemned the public harassment of veteran journalist and The New Age Editor Nurul Kabir, as well as attacks on the offices of Daily Prothom Alo and The Daily Star.
The human chain was held on Wednesday (December 24) at noon on the DRU premises. Presided over by DRU President Abu Saleh Akon and moderated by General Secretary Mainul Hasan Sohel, the event saw participation from DRU leaders and senior journalists across the media industry.
In his presidential address, Abu Saleh Akon stated that the cases filed against the DRU General Secretary and Administrative Officer are ‘motivated and entirely false.’ He remarked that these cases are an attempt to harass a professional journalists’ organization. He further noted, ‘The continuous attacks, harassment, and filing of false cases against the media and journalists pose a severe threat to democracy and freedom of expression.’
He added that the attacks on the offices of Daily Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, and the public harassment of Nurul Kabir, are direct assaults on independent journalism. ‘Terrorists are showing such audacity today because similar heinous attacks on journalists in the past went unpunished,’ he said.
The DRU President issued an ultimatum to the relevant government authorities to withdraw the false cases within 72 hours and arrest those involved in the attacks on the newspapers and the harassment of Nurul Kabir. Otherwise, he warned of stricter protest programs.
General Secretary Mynul Hasan Sohel said that the DRU has always stood, and will continue to stand, by its members. Describing the attacks on Prothom Alo and The Daily Star as contrary to independent journalism, he stated, ‘The media is the fourth pillar of the state. One cannot simply stifle its voice.’
Khurshid Alam, General Secretary of the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), noted that attacks on the media are not new. ‘We were on the streets for journalists’ rights in the past, and we are here now,’ he said, demanding the immediate arrest of the perpetrators.
The human chain featured speeches from several prominent figures, including: former DRU President Shafiqul Karim, Online Editor of the Daily Prothom Alo Shawkat Hossain Masum, DRU Vice-President Mehdi Azad Masum, Organising Secretary M.M. Jashim, Office Secretary Rashim Molla, Women Affairs Secretary, Jannatul Ferdous Panna, Cultural Secretary Md. Monowar Hossain, Panel Editor of Pressenza Dhaka Bureau. Sheikh Arif,
Other executive members and senior journalists, including Mahfuz Sadi, Mazaharul Islam, former Vice-President Gazi Anwar, and former Joint Secretary Nadia Sharmin, were also present among many others.
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The Author:
Maruf ul Alam: Staff Correspondent & Head of Support Service, Pressenza- Dhaka Bureau.
