In the wake of two Television journalists being remanded on charge of instigating violence, journalist leaders have sought intervention of the Chief Justice (CJ) in putting an end to harassment and oppression on media workers, including journalists. In a memorandum, they on Tuesday apprised the CJ Md Muzammel Hossain of their concerns over the growing incidents of oppression against journalists. The memorandum was submitted to the Supreme Court’s registrar to be forwarded to the CJ. President of a faction of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Ruhul Amin Gazi, former president of Jatiya Press Club Shawkat Mahmud, the club’s incumbent secretary Syed Abdal Ahmed, president of a faction of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Abdul Hye Shikder and its general secretary Jahangir Alam Prodhan, president of Law Reporters’ Forum Saleh Uddin were, among others, present. They said in the memorandum that media in the country have become a target of state-sponsored oppression. Referring to a lower court’s granting remand to two journalists of private Television channel Rtv, the journalist leaders said the court placed the duo on remand bringing a ludicrous charge of inciting violence. A Dhaka court on Sunday placed Rtv reporter Tamjid Rony and videographer Prashanto Modok were put on four-day remand on charge of instigating blockaders into blasting bombs” in the city’s Kamrangirchar during the second day of BNP-led 18-party alliance programme. However, they were granted bail on Tuesday after one-day remand. Besides, two editors fell prey to victims of torture by the government earlier, journalist leaders said. Not only the media workers but also rights activists and lawyers became victims of harassment by the government. If such type of torture goes on, the judiciary will face challenges in discharging duties bestowed on it. – UNB
