Rajshahi Correspondent:
Various journalist organizations have announced a new program after the human chain and protest against the case filed against six journalists, including an editor of a local newspaper in Rajshahi.
Journalist leaders took this decision at a meeting organized at the Rajshahi Barendra Press Club office located at Purbali Market, Shiroil Bus Terminal, Rajshahi at 11 am on Saturday (September 6).
Leaders of Rajshahi Barendra Press Club, Rajshahi Divisional Press Club, Rajshahi Online Journalist Forum and National Journalist Association Rajshahi branch, Rural Journalist Association Rajshahi branch, Bangladesh Central Press Club Rajshahi branch, Rajshahi Online Press Club were present at the meeting.
Speakers at the meeting alleged that a false extortion case was filed against six journalists in a conspiracy without taking the journalist’s complaint into consideration, in collusion with the OC of RMP’s Shahmukhdum Police Station and fraudster Akhtarul Islam.
They said that, like the whole country, this incident in Rajshahi is “harassment of journalists, a threat to independent journalism and an attempt to silence the media.”
Expressing strong condemnation and protest over the incident, they said that since the previously announced 24-hour ultimatum has ended, a decision has been taken to boycott all types of news from the RMP Police. All types of news from the RMP Police will be boycotted from today.
In addition, the meeting decided to submit a memorandum to the Home Affairs Advisor demanding the removal of the OC and withdrawal of the case, observe a peaceful sit-in program and take legal action against the accused through the court.
The leaders warned, “The movement will be intensified if the false case and OC are not removed.”
Earlier, a human chain was held at Sahebbazar Zero Point in Rajshahi city on September 4 to protest the filing of a false extortion case and demand the removal of the OC of Shah Makhdum Police Station. Journalists from various organizations including Rajshahi Barendra Press Club, Rajshahi Divisional Press Club, Rajshahi Press Club, Online Journalist Forum, Photo Journalist Association, National Journalist Association Rajshahi branch participated in it.
At that time, journalist leaders gave an ultimatum to withdraw the case within 24 hours and remove the OC.
It is worth noting that due to publishing the news, a false extortion case was filed against 6 journalists in collusion with the OC of Shahmukhdum Police Station and fraudster Akhtarul Islam. Fraudster Akhtarul Islam used to hire A’League leader Nurul Islam Thandu for contracting work in various offices under various identities. OC Machuma Mustari has been working in Rajshahi for a long time under the influence of A’League. OC Machuma Mustari is constructing a seven-story house in the Motihar police station area at a cost of several crores of taka. When journalists published news on these incidents, the OC filed a case against the journalists.
In the false case, Rajshahi’s Alo newspaper editor Ajibar Rahman, senior photojournalist Faisal Hossain, RTV cameraman Ariful Haque Roni, Kaler Kantho’s Nayeem Hossain, Ganamukti newspaper’s Mazharul Islam and Ajker Protyasha’s Nazmul Haque, along with a contractor, were accused.
The RMP Shahmukhdum police station, questioning the freedom of the media and the rule of law, did not accept the journalists as victims in the sensational incident, but instead registered a case in favor of the fraudster a week later.