Newspaper editors, journalist union representatives and media activists on Wednesday alerted journalists across the country to oppose any sort of repression and intimidation aimed at muzzling the mid media.
Speaking at a roundtable to mark 'the black day for newspapers and the present situation', they said that the freedom of press was at stake due to intimidation and repression on journalists by the incumbent regime.
Dhaka Union of Journalists organised the discussion at National Press Club to mark the 'black day for newspapers', June 16, 1975.
One June 16, 1975, the then government of Awami League banned all but four newspapers.
Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman, Amader Shomoy editor Naeemul Islam Lkan, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists secretary general Shaukat Mahmud, DUJ secretary Muhammad Baker Hossain, BFUJ president Ruhul Amin Gazi, vice president Aminul Islam Kagaji and veteran journalist Ershad Majumdar spoke at the session chaired by DUJ president Abdus Shahid.
In his keynote paper, Daily Dinkal editor Rezwan Siddiqui said that the Awami League led regime, following what it had done on June 16, 1975, continues to harass the journalists.
He said that Awami League cannot forget its old characteristics and activities which led it to shut down all but four newspapers on June 16, 1975.
The other speakers said the Awami League led government was following a policy of not tolerating the views and opinions of others.
They said that this policy of intolerance had led the then Awami League government in 1975 to enact a draconian law to shut down all but four newspapers.
They said that Awami League has been repeating that since 2009.
They said AL cannot tolerate others' opinion. They always try to intimidate and muzzle the press.
They condemned muzzling Amar Desh and shutting down Channel 1 and Jamuna Television which only reflected the ruling party's intolerance.
They urged journalists across the country to oppose the repeat of such repressive actions in future.
source:New Age
